The Portland Trail Blazers' lack of star power was exposed in their short playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs. They've taken strides towards closing the gap thanks to Deni Avdija's All-Star ascension, but now they must get him help. Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is one option Portland should pursue, as he'd be the ideal co-star alongside Avdija.
Both Portland and Phoenix exceeded expectations this season, but that doesn't mean they are on the same trajectory. The Blazers' patient rebuilding approach is paying off, as they are stockpiling draft capital and have a good mix of youth and veterans, potentially setting them up to add a star this summer.
While Booker has remained incredibly loyal to the city of Phoenix, the reality is that the Suns eventually need to make a significant roster shake-up to escape no man's land. They are hurting for draft capital after their all-in move for Kevin Durant backfired. If Phoenix wants to improve its long-term outlook, trading its loyal star could present the best solution.
Devin Booker would fix the Blazers' offensive woes
If Booker does become available, the Blazers' front office should be working the phones. The scoring and shot creation, paired with his underrated playmaking, would instantly elevate Portland's offense and give them a much better roster balance going forward.
The Blazers established a defensive identity, but their flawed offense came back to haunt them in their series against the Spurs. That resulted in frustrating blown leads in the second half, making this a short series despite the overall level of competitiveness.
Adding Booker into the mix to take some of that offensive burden off Avdija would go a long way towards a deep playoff run next season. A Damian Lillard-Devin Booker-Deni Avdija trio would turn Portland's lack of scoring and backcourt inconsistencies from a weakness to a strength.
Meanwhile, they could entice the Suns to part ways with their star by including one of Scoot Henderson or Shaedon Sharpe, who have both shown flashes of their high ceilings this season.
Next year, the Blazers don't have the luxury of waiting for Henderson and Sharpe to put it all together to become more consistent players. They have aspirations of a deep playoff run under Lillard's closing window and can't afford to waste any more seasons waiting for their shaky backcourt of the future to figure things out. The two timelines approach rarely works in NBA roster construction, and at this point, Portland may be better off leaning into its veteran timeline.
If they decide to have an aggresive summer under new owner Tom Dundon to make the most of Lillard's return, trading for Booker would give this team a legitimate shot at a deep playoff run. Relying on Avdija as a point forward got them to the seven seed, but if they truly want to make noise next season, acquiring a co-star like Booker is a necessity.
Now, it's a matter of whether Phoenix makes him available. But they absolutely should, given their first-round exit and lack of future assets.
Add us as a preferred source on Google