Busting Brackets
Fansided

2015 NBA Summer League: Devin Booker Ready to Fire Away for the Phoenix Suns

By James Fitzgerald

facebooktwitterreddit

The 2015 NBA Summer League season has come to a close, but we can still reflect on some of the performances that stood out in our mind and how it could translate into what we could see come this fall.

More from Kentucky Wildcats

Yeah, the Phoenix Suns eventually lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the Las Vegas Summer League championship game 93-90, and congratulations to Becky Hammon on her accomplishment in leading that Spurs team to a championship in her first head coaching gig.

However, one of the best player performances happened in the semifinal round of the Summer League playoffs when the Phoenix Suns were facing the New Orleans Pelicans.

In that game, former University of Kentucky sharpshooter turned No.13 draft pick, Devin Booker, went completely “en fuego” on the basketball court knocking down just about everything he pulled the trigger on.

The 6-foot-6 guard knocked down 10 of 17 from the field and 5 of 9 from downtown en route to scoring 31 points in a 93-87 victory.

If anyone was wondering why the Phoenix Suns decided that taking Devin Booker was the way to go, they received their answer in that game.

Jeff Hornacek at one point during the NBA season had three point guards squirreling around the perimeter. The Suns won some ball games, but the front office brass quickly realized that they needed to get bigger on the outside quickly.

So they traded point guard Goran Dragic to the Miami Heat and dealt point guard Isaiah Thomas to the Boston Celtics putting all their faith in former Kentucky guard Eric Bledsoe to run the point.

Devin Booker being drafted is a symbol of the change in the physical makeup of the team, but not the philosophy of the team.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2015/03/17/kentuckys-devin-booker-preparing-for-key-role-in-ncaas/24887791/

The Suns are a “run ‘n’ gun” uptempo offense that will pull the trigger on three-pointer in a heartbeat.

Phoenix was 10th in three-point field goal attempts per game at 25.0 per contest in 2014-15 and knocked down 34.1 percent of those attempts.

Booker is going to come in and be able to get comfortable quickly with the freedom to pull the trigger from deep.

While at Kentucky he averaged 10.0 points and shot 47% from the field while shooting 41.1% from the downtown.

During the Summer League, Booker averaged 15.3 points and 4.9 rebounds on 40.2% shooting from the floor and 40% shooting from three-point land.

What makes him the right fit is the fact that his shot selection is sound and he makes good decisions on the court.

People are going to question if he is going to be able to guard some of the shooting guards on the NBA level like James Harden or Klay Thompson, but in today’s NBA coaches have a way of masking defensive deficiencies in players and will match Booker up defensively with someone that won’t torch him.

The main thing that Devin Booker is going to bring to the Phoenix Suns is much needed size to the Suns’ perimeter.

All the other things as far as his defensive ability or how his athleticism is going to translate into the pro game remain to be seen as he develops.

Live Feed

Washington Wizards' Johnny Davis is not ready for a rotational role
Washington Wizards' Johnny Davis is not ready for a rotational role /

Wiz of Awes

  • Washington Wizards sign Dejan Vasiljevic to training camp dealWiz of Awes
  • Can Keyonte George be the primary playmaker for the Jazz going forward?The J-Notes
  • 3 Takeaways from Trail Blazers 2023 NBA Summer LeagueRip City Project
  • Washington Wizards sign high-upside guard Jared Butler to a two-way contractWiz of Awes
  • Why Tre Mann's Summer League was so importantThunderous Intentions

    • Bottom line is with Devin Booker in the backcourt rotation the Suns actually have upgraded their overall perimeter situation.

    The Summer League sometimes gives players the opportunity to legitimize their selection to a particular team at a particular time.

    Devin Booker’s selection may not have made sense to some at the time because everyone was of the mindset that Phoenix needed to get bigger in the post.

    The Suns have since picked up Tyson Chandler to play center in free agency which made the selection of Booker even more sensible.

    This pick may or may not pay immediate dividends when Devin Booker goes up against the 82 game slate with real NBA snipers coming at him, but Vegas did give Suns’ fans a glimpse into what is possible in the future and it looks positive.

    Next: J.P. Tokoto Says His Niche Will be as a Defensive Stopper

    More from Busting Brackets

    Home/Kentucky Wildcats