Best-case scenario
In the best-case scenario, Booker comes back fully healthy and is ready for opening night, with no lingering effects of the hand surgery. Ayton is a monster out of the gate, getting easy points around the basket on offense and fully buying in to what Kokoskov is preaching about making defense his primary focus.
Warren’s 3-point shot is no mirage, and with Jackson looking like the breakout player he was at the end of last season, the Suns are able to swing a blockbuster trade, dealing one of their wings for a disgruntled star point guard who still fits the team’s timeline.
Booker builds on his career year and with a new backcourt partner in tow, the Suns shock the world under Kokoskov. Ayton wins Rookie of the Year, Ariza, Jackson and Bridges are terrific on the wing and a high-powered offense makes up for a below-average defense to carry Phoenix to 40 wins — a whopping 19-win improvement and not far from playoff contention in the loaded West.
Worst-case scenario
In the worst-case scenario, Booker feels the lingering effects of his summer hand surgery and struggles to take the next step as a star who contributes to winning basketball. The Devin Booker “good stats, bad team” talk somehow grows even more insufferable.
The Suns are unable to trade for a quality starting point guard, rolling with one of the rookies at the 1 until they finally give up too much for an underwhelming one- or two-year rental. Warren’s 3-point shot is still bad, Jackson continues to try and force everything with disastrous results, Ariza becomes unhappy and wants out after a few months, and Ayton struggles to adjust to the pros, conjuring up “draft bust” talk because of his defense.
Bridges vanishes on offense, neither Okobo nor Melton is ready for the starting job and Anderson is a black hole on the defensive end. The first-year head coach struggles to implement a winning system with so much inexperience. The Suns once again finish with the worst record in the league and Booker begins to grow disgruntled with the direction of the franchise.