Report: Devin Booker wants out of Phoenix

[RJ87]

Somewhere along the line Devin Booker became the next coming of James Harden in the eyes of NBA fans.

He's exactly Zach Lavine. Ok, maybe he is slightly better than Zach Lavine.

Win some games. Get into the playoffs. Play some defense. Until that point, I value him at the same level as Lavine, who wouldn't start for this team and I wouldn't trade Brown, Tatum, Walker, Smart, or Hayward for.

Booker is a legit talent. Definitely not Harden level, but a better facilitator and more well rounded offensively than Zach. He's also far more coachable. The West is a gauntlet and that Phoenix team as a whole just hasn't been built well enough to be competitive for the vast majority of his career there. But I think the bubble was a glimpse of how fun that team can be with some real pieces next to him.

It'd never happen, but a Tatum/Booker core would be really promising.

[Moranis]

Booker is a lot better than LaVine.  He is a much better shooter and scorer.  He is a better passer.  He plays better defense.  LaVine takes better care of the ball and is a slightly better rebounder, but no where near enough to make up the huge gap offensively.

Booker looks like he could be a better version of Kemba Walker.  LaVine is basically a better shooting version of Ricky Davis or a Jamal Crawford type player.

That said, I'd rather have Brown than Booker as I think he fits better.  If Walker, Smart, and picks gets it done, though then absolutely (I don't think that would get it done). 

[gouki88]

Booker turned 24 a week ago and already has 7683 career points. Kobe at the same age had around 500 more, due to his rookie season. Booker is a lot better than Zach Lavine.

[dannyboy35]

 Wow. I’m surprised some peeps don’t value Booker that high. I’d be through the roof. There’s very few people I’d trade Jaylen for but I’d do jaylen and smart in a millisecond. What ELSE do they want. Seriously. If there is ANY chance Danny should go hard. If we can have a Tatum and Booker then that’s when a third star team up can really happen. Those are two nearly unstoppable offensive players. Plus Booker is a very good facilitator.

[RodyTur10]

Wow. I’m surprised some peeps don’t value Booker that high. I’d be through the roof. There’s very few people I’d trade Jaylen for but I’d do jaylen and smart in a millisecond. What ELSE do they want. Seriously. If there is ANY chance Danny should go hard. If we can have a Tatum and Booker then that’s when a third star team up can really happen. Those are two nearly unstoppable offensive players. Plus Booker is a very good facilitator.

I'm not sure I'd jump that quickly, but you have to do make that deal. When Phoenix makes the playoffs the media will probably start talks whether Booker is a top 10 player (and I think he's close).

[gouki88]

Wow. I’m surprised some peeps don’t value Booker that high. I’d be through the roof. There’s very few people I’d trade Jaylen for but I’d do jaylen and smart in a millisecond. What ELSE do they want. Seriously. If there is ANY chance Danny should go hard. If we can have a Tatum and Booker then that’s when a third star team up can really happen. Those are two nearly unstoppable offensive players. Plus Booker is a very good facilitator.

I'm not sure I'd jump that quickly, but you have to do make that deal. When Phoenix makes the playoffs the media will probably start talks whether Booker is a top 10 player (and I think he's close).

I feel as if they deserved a playoff shot simply due to their bubble play. Going 8-0 was awesome.

If Booker can play a full season like he did in the bubble then trading for him would be really really hard

[ozgod]

Hard pass. Great player no doubt I'm sure if JT was in the same situation being the 1st, 2nd and 3rd option and took 20 FGA a game his whole career he'd have a similar career average. If you look at their 3rd year seasons the stats are virtually identical but Tatum' shooting %s are better and his usage is slightly lower. Plus JT has 3 years of playoff experience to Devin's zero.

[GreenEnvy]

No thanks. Asking price would surely be much higher than his impact would be. Great at scoring 35 in losses. Great in a bubble though.

[RodyTur10]

Tatum is the only player I would certainly not trade for Booker. And that's not even because I think Tatum is that much better, but positionally he's more valuable. Don't think it's likely that Phoenix would trade Booker now anyway.

[RJ87]

Hard pass. Great player no doubt I'm sure if JT was in the same situation being the 1st, 2nd and 3rd option and took 20 FGA a game his whole career he'd have a similar career average. If you look at their 3rd year seasons the stats are virtually identical but Tatum' shooting %s are better and his usage is slightly lower. Plus JT has 3 years of playoff experience to Devin's zero.

Tatum has also had the benefit of playing on far more talented teams. It's easier to be more efficient when you have release valves like Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, and Gordon Hayward. Booker's best teammate during his 3rd year was Eric Bledsoe who was disgruntled and only ended up playing 3 games in Phoenix that year. After that it was a hodge-podge of guys like Elfrid Payton, Josh Jackson, an old Tyson Chandler, and Dragan Bender.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Booker is a lot better than LaVine.  He is a much better shooter and scorer.  He is a better passer.  He plays better defense.  LaVine takes better care of the ball and is a slightly better rebounder, but no where near enough to make up the huge gap offensively.

Booker looks like he could be a better version of Kemba Walker.  LaVine is basically a better shooting version of Ricky Davis or a Jamal Crawford type player.

That said, I'd rather have Brown than Booker as I think he fits better.  If Walker, Smart, and picks gets it done, though then absolutely (I don't think that would get it done).

Not sure I agree. Somewhere Booker became known as a knock-down shooter, but he was only 35% from three this year. Lavine was at 38%. Throughout their careers, Lavine has been at the same level or slightly better as a shooter.

Booker definitely took a step forward this year as a passer. I'd like to see that for another year on a winning team. We have no proof yet whether those are counting stats or winning stats. Again, great talent and you have to credit the growth in his game, but I just want to see it contribute to wins. There are so many stats guys that don't help winning.

I also can't understand the comparison of Lavine to Davis or Crawford. He's already way better than either of those players ever were. The comparison of Booker to Walker is curious to me as well. I don't think those two players are similar enough in play style, athleticism, or position to draw a comparison.

I also see that someone else question Lavine's coachability. To that, I suggest that Lavine has never had a good coach, but has demonstrated willingness to try to follow many difficult systems. I'd say the same about Booker. I don't think either is seriously questionable in that.

[RJ87]

Booker is a lot better than LaVine.  He is a much better shooter and scorer.  He is a better passer.  He plays better defense.  LaVine takes better care of the ball and is a slightly better rebounder, but no where near enough to make up the huge gap offensively.

Booker looks like he could be a better version of Kemba Walker.  LaVine is basically a better shooting version of Ricky Davis or a Jamal Crawford type player.

That said, I'd rather have Brown than Booker as I think he fits better.  If Walker, Smart, and picks gets it done, though then absolutely (I don't think that would get it done).

Not sure I agree. Somewhere Booker became known as a knock-down shooter, but he was only 35% from three this year. Lavine was at 38%. Throughout their careers, Lavine has been at the same level or slightly better as a shooter.

Booker definitely took a step forward this year as a passer. I'd like to see that for another year on a winning team. We have no proof yet whether those are counting stats or winning stats. Again, great talent and you have to credit the growth in his game, but I just want to see it contribute to wins. There are so many stats guys that don't help winning.

I also can't understand the comparison of Lavine to Davis or Crawford. He's already way better than either of those players ever were. The comparison of Booker to Walker is curious to me as well. I don't think those two players are similar enough in play style, athleticism, or position to draw a comparison.

I also see that someone else question Lavine's coachability. To that, I suggest that Lavine has never had a good coach, but has demonstrated willingness to try to follow many difficult systems. I'd say the same about Booker. I don't think either is seriously questionable in that.

Hold on - among the coaches Zach has had are Flip Saunders and Tom Thibodeau. But I am specifically referring to Zach in Chicago. I know people love to throw Jim Boylen under the bus and he rightfully deserves a ton of blame, but Zach handled the situation about as poorly as one fears the face of the franchise could. Anytime there's a report about a player almost coming to blows with their coach, there should be concern. Add onto the constant griping and passive aggressive comments to the press, he's certainly not trying to ease tensions in that locker room.

[Moranis]

Booker is a lot better than LaVine.  He is a much better shooter and scorer.  He is a better passer.  He plays better defense.  LaVine takes better care of the ball and is a slightly better rebounder, but no where near enough to make up the huge gap offensively.

Booker looks like he could be a better version of Kemba Walker.  LaVine is basically a better shooting version of Ricky Davis or a Jamal Crawford type player.

That said, I'd rather have Brown than Booker as I think he fits better.  If Walker, Smart, and picks gets it done, though then absolutely (I don't think that would get it done).

Not sure I agree. Somewhere Booker became known as a knock-down shooter, but he was only 35% from three this year. Lavine was at 38%. Throughout their careers, Lavine has been at the same level or slightly better as a shooter.

Booker definitely took a step forward this year as a passer. I'd like to see that for another year on a winning team. We have no proof yet whether those are counting stats or winning stats. Again, great talent and you have to credit the growth in his game, but I just want to see it contribute to wins. There are so many stats guys that don't help winning.

I also can't understand the comparison of Lavine to Davis or Crawford. He's already way better than either of those players ever were. The comparison of Booker to Walker is curious to me as well. I don't think those two players are similar enough in play style, athleticism, or position to draw a comparison.

I also see that someone else question Lavine's coachability. To that, I suggest that Lavine has never had a good coach, but has demonstrated willingness to try to follow many difficult systems. I'd say the same about Booker. I don't think either is seriously questionable in that.

I don't think you remember how good Ricky Davis and Jamal Crawford were in their primes.  I mean Davis had a season where he averaged 20.6 p, 4.9 r, 5.5 a and added 1.6 steals (shooting 36% from 3).  Crawford not the rebounder, but also had a 20.6 point and 5 assist season and followed that up with a 19.7/4.4 season.  LaVine is obviously a bit more prolific as a scorer, but his impact is pretty similar to those two guys.  I don't think Booker and Walker are all that similar in play style, but more level as a player.  You know an All NBA candidate and consistent all star.  LaVine isn't going to be that type of player.  Booker can be. 

[Kernewek]

I mean Davis had a season where he averaged 20.6 p, 4.9 r, 5.5 a and added 1.6 steals (shooting 36% from 3). 

On a team that won a grand total of 17 games. Empty stats no matter how you skin the cat (even the worst teams are going to have players that fill up the box score, after all) even if he was a fun player to watch.

[Moranis]

I mean Davis had a season where he averaged 20.6 p, 4.9 r, 5.5 a and added 1.6 steals (shooting 36% from 3). 

On a team that won a grand total of 17 games. Empty stats no matter how you skin the cat (even the worst teams are going to have players that fill up the box score, after all) even if he was a fun player to watch.

You mean like Chicago being terrible with LaVine.  Davis also had a similar season which he split between 33 win Boston and 33 win Minnesota.