The Suns are going to have to take on the Rockets without Devin Booker. Head coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed that Booker is dealing with some stiffness after taking a hard fall in their last game against the Grizzlies. He actually played through it at first, but by the time they left the arena, it was clear he wasn’t moving right. With the All-Star break coming up, Phoenix is playing it safe—giving him time to rest now, so he’s ready to go when it really matters down the stretch.
Not having Booker is obviously a big blow to the Suns’ offense, but there’s a bit of intrigue here—Budenholzer hinted that Vasa Micic might finally make his debut. Phoenix has plenty of depth at point guard, but depending on how the game plays out, Micic could get some run. In the meantime, Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen are gonna have to step up and carry more of the scoring load as the Suns keep fighting for playoff position.
And as if losing Booker wasn’t enough, there’s also a storm brewing around Kevin Durant. Reports are swirling that he’s “probably” getting traded this offseason. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst says both KD and the Suns are well aware of the situation, and teams like the Heat, Grizzlies, and Rockets could be potential landing spots. With Phoenix struggling despite having one of the most expensive rosters in the league, it wouldn’t be shocking if they shake things up again.
For now, though, the focus is on getting Booker healthy and staying competitive while all this uncertainty hangs over the team’s future.
Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
(This is a building story…)
The post Why Is Devin Booker Not Playing Against Rockets? Suns HC Provides Injury Update Amid Kevin Durant Trade Rumors appeared first on EssentiallySports.