In an appearance on ‘Arizona Sports,’ NBA legend Charles Barkley spoke up about the current situation with the Phoenix Suns. According to Barkley, their recent interest in Jimmy Butler is due to the lack of leadership from their franchise star, Devin Booker.
“Devin (Booker)’s a hell of a player but I think he’s just too nice of a guy also,” said Barkley. “He doesn’t hold the other guys accountable. I think that’s why they want to get Jimmy Butler. Because Jimmy is not gonna have some of this stuff going around here.”
As the Heat look for a new home for their disgruntled star, the Suns have been one of the few teams consistently in the running. Even after trading for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal in a short period, the Suns are coveting Butler. The latest reports indicate that the franchise is going to great lengths to pursue the Miami Heat star, such as trying to make Bradley Beal feel “unwelcome” so he can waive his no-trade clause.
In Barkley’s view, the Suns wouldn’t even need Butler if young star Devin Booker was more vocal about holding his teammates accountable and keeping their work ethic in check.
On the court, Devin’s talent is undeniable with averages of 24.6 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game on 42.9% shooting. The 4x All-Star, who was drafted 13th overall in 2015, has been the face of the Suns for the past nine seasons and they’ve given up a lot to surround him with a championship-caliber roster.
But Booker has never been known as a vocal leader and in all of his tenure in Phoenix so far, he only has one playoff run worth mentioning and that’s in 2021 when they lost to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
After trading for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, championship expectations were hoisted on the Suns and there was pressure for Booker to deliver. So far, the results have been anything but successful for the Suns and there’s a growing theory that Booker’s leadership may be partly to blame.
If that’s true, Jimmy Butler might be the perfect acquisition. The 5x All-NBA player has not always played nice with his teammates, but he provides the kind of spark that brings out the best in his teammates. During his tenure with the Heat, we saw his impact in real-time when Butler unexpectedly led them to the depths of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
In Phoenix, Butler would be a perfect fit both on and off the court for the Suns and Butler feels the same way given that they are the only team on his short list of preferred trade destinations.
The problem for Phoenix is Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause, which means that no deal can happen without his direct approval. Unless they somehow force his compliance or find some other way to make the trade, the Suns may lose their chance to acquire Butler until free agency this summer.
For now, the Suns will have to play on with who they have but most experts agree that they need a more vocal voice in the locker room who can hold the others accountable and ensure that maximum effort is being given at all times on the court.
The next game for the Suns is tonight (January 9th) against the Atlanta Hawks at Footprint Center. On Saturday, January 11th, they face the Utah Jazz at home at 5:00 PM EST. Finally, the Suns will host the Charlotte Hornets at home on Sunday, January 12th, at 9:00 PM EST.
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