Phoenix Suns: The pros and cons of starting Devin Booker at point guard

Verdict: It’s time…almost

More than likely, Triano’s hinted lineup change for Friday will be a healthy Marquese Chriss returning to the starting five and Isaiah Canaan taking over for the struggling Tyler Ulis. Even after losing five of six games in blowout fashion, it’s too soon to do anything too crazy.

However, the Suns aren’t as far away from this inevitable outcome as one might think. If Canaan’s 3-point shooting tails off and he’s unable to create plays for a more talented supporting cast, it’ll be time to start experimenting — even before the All-Star break arrives.

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The Phoenix Suns are not a good basketball team, but they have two players who are good enough to prevent losses that would otherwise increase the value of their first round pick. The Suns need another difference-maker to pair with Booker for the long-term, and so far, neither Warren nor Bender nor Chriss looks like that piece.

McDonough can’t risk pissing off Booker in any way, so resting him, Warren or anyone else is out. Starting Ulis is actively hurting the team’s chemistry as long as he continues to struggle to this degree. At some point in the near future, feeding Jackson starting minutes and letting Booker fully take the wheel of the offense will become the most sensible outcome.

That change will take a physical toll on Booker and leave the Suns scrambling for answers defensively, but they already rank 29th on that end, with the league’s 27th-ranked offense and worst assist-to-turnover ratio. It’s not like the situation could get much worse.

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If Devin Booker is already flashing a career arc that more closely resembles James Harden than a traditional spot-up shooter, why not give him a new challenge, let him fine-tune his game and continue preparing for the future all while aiding the tank in a lost season? If the Suns continue to struggle at the point, this alternative makes too much sense to ignore for much longer.