2. Who fits around Booker?
Devin Booker has cemented himself as the face of the franchise right now. It remains to be seen if Josh Jackson and Deandre Ayton will join him in that lofty status eventually. For the rest of the players on the roster, their tenure with the Phoenix Suns will depend on how well they fit next to Booker.
The only real exception would be if they’re in a situation like that of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, where they’re both so good that you keep them even if the fit isn’t perfect. Still, there’s probably no one on the Suns that fits that description next to Booker just yet.
Isaiah Canaan, Trevor Ariza and Tyson Chandler have been brought back, signed and retained, respectively, because even if they’re not star players in the league, they’re good fits around Booker. Other members of the roster can’t say that.
Brandon Knight, T.J. Warren and possibly Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender still have yet to prove themselves as well-fitting counterparts. Sometimes that can be good (James Harden and Chris Paul were imperfect fits, but they made it work), but more often than not, it’s a negative.
If Warren turns into prime Carmelo Anthony, or Bender starts to look more like Lauri Markkanen, the Suns will be likely to keep them. But if players like these can’t prove that they’re good fits, they’ll probably be on a different team sooner or later.