NBA Season Preview 2018-19: The Suns have a roster for relevance

By Ben Ladner | Oct 10, 2018

PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 2: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the Phoenix Suns NBA all access practice on October 2, 2018, at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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MIAMI, FL – MARCH 5: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns is seen before the game against the Miami Heat on March 5, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Point Guard

Starter: Devin Booker

Depth: Elie Okobo, De’Anthony Melton, Shaquille Harrison

Whether Phoenix will make a trade for a starting point guard — preferably one good enough to make an impact right away and young enough to grow with Phoenix’s core — remains one of the biggest questions across the NBA entering the season.

For now, consider Booker the point guard, if only by function. Regardless of who he shares the backcourt with, he’ll handle much of the playmaking and ball-handling duties for the Suns, who figure to run plenty of spread pick-and-roll with Booker in Kokoškov’s system. In the long term, they’ll likely need a more stable option next to Booker, who must be free to work away from the ball and shoot off the catch for Phoenix’s offense to operate at maximum capacity. More importantly, someone will need to defend opposing point guards, something Booker can’t do consistently.

Melton, an important pickup from Houston, could fill that role nicely, especially if he can pose a threat as a shooter. Phoenix could also use a wing like Josh Jackson or Mikal Bridges to smother smaller players while Booker occupies less threatening perimeter players.

Harrison earned rotation minutes down the stretch of last season, though given the Suns’ recent influx of talent, will be less essential this year. Okobo, meanwhile, is largely a mystery entering his first year in the NBA. If he pops right away, a trade for a starting point guard may prove unnecessary.