Rip City Project
Fansided

Power ranking the NBA’s top 10 shooting guards for 2019-20

By Austin Carroll

PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 24: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns look on during the game on January 24, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 24: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns look on during the game on January 24, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 11
Next
NBA - Portland Trail Blazers
NBA – Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 58.4 TS%. Devin Booker. 6. 66. 26.6 PTS, 6.8 AST

Devin Booker is probably the most polarizing shooting guard in the NBA. On some nights, he appears capable of single-handedly toppling kingdoms. On other nights, he looks like a one-man show desperately trying to keep the sinking ship in Phoenix afloat — not always actually benefiting the team.

Well, time’s running out to make excuses. Ricky Rubio is supposed to be the savior of the city, but his fit next to Donovan Mitchell was already less than ideal. I’m not exactly sure how a dominant ball handler that can’t shoot is supposed to help Booker, he was actually developing quite nicely as a primary playmaker.

Gained: Ricky Rubio, Dario Saric, Cam Johnson, Ty Jerome, Aron Baynes, Cheick Diallo, Frank Kaminsky, Jevon Carter

Lost: T.J. Warren, Jarrett Culver (No. 6 pick), Josh Jackson, Richaun Holmes, De’Anthony Melton, KZ Okpala (No. 32 pick), two future second-round picks

That is clearly a net negative trade that only hurts Booker’s supporting cast more than helps it. More fringe NBA talent is not going to be what it takes to pull Phoenix out of mediocrity.

For all of Devin Booker’s natural talent, all you’ll likely be seeing from him this season is another 26 points per game performance that amounts to nothing but yet another low lottery pick. It’s a shame he hasn’t been put in a position to prove he’s a winner, not a stat-sheet filling chucker.