Via The Basketball Network
Key Players: Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, Trevor Ariza
Shaq and Kobe. Shaq and Kobe. Shaq and Kobe. Shaq and Kobe. Shaq and Kobe.
There, it's out the way.
From the moment the Phoenix Suns won the draft lottery, basketball fans scrambled to be the first to crown the Ayton-Booker duo as the league's next great guard-big man pairing. As cliché as the comparison is, the undisputable talent of Devin Booker and the limitless potential of a 7'1, 250lb Deandre Ayton makes it impossible for fans of the game to not get giddy over the resemblance to one of the sport's most polarizing duos.
The Kobe Bryant of the comparison, Devin Booker, signed a five-year, $158 million contract, following his team-leading 24.9 points per game season. However, the league's golden boy(pun intended) will have to wait six weeks to touch the court again after undergoing surgery to repair a fifth metacarpophalangeal joint in his shooting hand. Metacarpophalangeal made it into an article. SoundSports Ph.D.
Deandre Ayton looked every bit of a number one overall pick, averaging an impressive 14.5 points and 10.5 rebounds a night, along with dominating the two of the draft's top big men--second overall pick Marvin Bagley and sixth pick S̶h̶e̶c̶k̶ ̶W̶e̶s̶ Mo Bamba. Ayton put up 17 points and 13 rebounds versus Bamba and silenced any doubt over who the draft's top prospect was by dominating Bagley with a stat line of 21 points and 12 rebounds on 8-11 shooting. Ayton's 15/11 Summer League averages don't come anywhere near Shaquille O'Neal's rookie season averages of 23/14, but his efficient numbers on such low attempts give the Booker-Ayton duo the one thing the Shaq-Kobe duo lacked--a clear Alpha and Beta.
If Booker and Ayton are the Sun's Alpha and Beta then Josh Jackson plays the role of Omega. The credible source of Fanlore.org describes an omega as "generally the lowest on the hierarchy (although in some fanworks Omegas are rare and prized). Male Omegas are self-lubricating and have the ability to become pregnant." The second half of that quote was used strictly to prove the credibility of the site's definition. Josh Jackson is last on the franchise cornerstone hierarchy but as Phoenix's unwillingness to trade the former Kansas forward for Kyrie Irving last summer suggests, he is an intergral part of the Sun's plans for the future. Jackson averaged a respectable 13.1 points and an impressive 4.6 rebounds a night in his rookie campaign, assuring his spot as Devin Booker's wing parter-in-crime for the forseeable future.
The Phoenix Suns made one of the more unexpected free agent accusitions of the Summer, signing former Rockets forward Trevor Ariza for 1-year, $15 million contract. Sticking to the theme of acquiring Houston talent, Phoenix traded Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss to the Rockets for shooting threat Ryan Anderson and rookie guard De'Anthony Melton. The other notable addition for Phoenix came in the form of Trevor Ariza 2.0 -- Mikal Bridges. The 6'7 former Villanova forward can be used all over the court on both sides thanks to his 7'1 wingspan and pure jumpshot.
Phoenix's Best Case Scenario
Via NBA.com
Look at that face. That face belongs to none other than Igor Kokoškov. If that face is on the Sun's sidelines for more than 82 games then the 2018-2019 season went perfectly for Phoenix. Kokoškov,46, is a seasoned veteran in the league, serving as an assistant coach for six teams over the past 18 years. His successesful jump from assistant to head coach hangs solely on his ability for Phoenix to craft some type of identity around their young core pieces.
Exclusive look into the Phoenix Sun's gameplan of the last three years:
*Young potential-filled big sets high pick for Devin Booker*
*The big then cuts unthreatingly to the goal*
*Booker makes something out of nothing*
Past identities have allowed for big individual numbers in the past, Devin Booker and T.J. Warren both finishing top-30 in points per game last season, but those numbers haven't translated to wins--just 68 total in the last three years. If Kokoškov can create any sustainable formula for success around Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton then the Suns' season can be viewed as the organization's first big win in awhile.
Devin Booker is holding his team to a higher standard.
In the Suns exiting interview the face of the franchise stated, "I’m done with not making the playoffs. I’m serious ...This is probably the last year I’m ever not making the playoffs."
Playoffs in a stacked Western Conference may be out of reach, but the words have to be encouarging for Suns fans coming from their $100 million man.
Phoenix's Worst Case Scenario
Via Bright Side of the Sun
Isaiah Canaan played 19 games last season and averaged nine points on 38 percent shooting. Isaiah Canaan is coming off a horrific ankle injury, joining Gordon Hayward for one of the most gruesome season-enders on national televison. Isaiah Canaan is the best point guard on Phoenix's roster.
The lack of depth at the lead guard position puts the task of playmaking on the shoulders of none other than Devin Booker. While his 4.7 assists per game suggest he's a capable playmaker, Booker's 3.6 turnovers a night gives him an assist-to-turnover ratio worse than the likes of forwards Darius Miller and Frank Kaminsky. An overdependence on Booker's ability to create would prove costly.
Booker's lack of playmaking combined with Deandre Ayton's lack of anything special on defense could turn the comparisons from legendary duos like Shaq and Kobe into failed dynamics like Harden and Dwight.
Via Cody Wright/Youtube
The fluidity and unicorn ability Ayton flashes on offense disappears at times on defense, causing him to look lost and stiff far too often. The 7'1, former Arizona big man​ ranked in the literal 0th percentile on defending drives after a pick and pop; while those numbers were generated from a small sample size, they raise concern considering the amount Ayton will be placed in similar situations​ on the professional level.
Other possible Phoenix downfalls are standard issues for young teams. With so much raw talent and a rookie head coach, young wing players could become disgruntled sharing playing time with similiarly talented teammates. However, veteran locker room guys like Trevor Ariza and Tyson Chandler should keep this scenario from happening.
Record Prediction: 34-48, Kokoškov Forever