Phoenix Suns: Chris Paul trade will elevate Devin Booker to new heights

Chris Paul provides Booker a new lease on life

With Chris Paul shouldering most of the on-ball responsibilities, Booker, an understatedly intelligent off-ball player, will have plenty of room to operate off of Deandre Ayton and Jalen Smith screens. While the thought of a constantly moving Devin Booker gives one the idea of a more offensively versatile Klay Thompson, the most notable impact of this trade lies within how teams choose to defend the 24-year-old superstar. The opposition will now have to pick their poison: Will they guard Booker straight up, or will they try to rattle him by sending doubles?

Quite frankly, both options are unlikely to bear much fruit for opposing defenses.

Now a proven facilitator, a double-teamed Devin Booker will only free up an offense that ranked 12th in offensive rating last season—a season in which they were without the luxury of one of the best point guards in NBA history. This can create more opportunities for everyone on the floor; Chris Paul against a mismatched help-defender, Deandre Ayton down low, the newly acquired Jalen Smith rolling to the hoop or popping out for open jumpers, Mikal Bridges cutting to the rim, or shooters like Cameron Johnson, Cameron Payne, and Dario Saric from beyond the three-point line. For the first time in a long time, the Phoenix Suns have realistic options to put their superstar shooting guard in a position to find team success.

And if teams opt to play Booker in isolation, well…

The upcoming season already looked promising for the Phoenix Suns, but with Chris Paul’s arrival as a mercenary point-God, Devin Booker and the Suns are no longer shrouded by the gloomy clouds so often found lingering around the organization. The future is bright in Phoenix, and the rest of the NBA best take notice.