One thing is clear: The Phoenix Suns are searching for more help around Devin Booker. Whether that comes from internal development or acquiring talent, team owner Mat Ishbia has made it abundantly clear that the mission is to build another contender around the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
Since the departure of Chris Paul back in 2023, Booker has taken on both point guard and shooting responsibilities, which is why it’s no surprise to see the amount of discourse there’s been about adding a full-time point guard next to him in the starting lineup to get him back to playing the position he did when he was All-NBA First Team during the 2021-2022 campaign.
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One player who could perfectly complement Booker in the backcourt is Jrue Holiday.
The two have played alongside each other for Team USA in 2021 and 2024 in the Olympics, and matched up against each other often when the Milwaukee Bucks and Suns played in the Finals back in 2021. Holiday is a two-time champion, multi-time All-Star, six-time defense and has just averaged his most points and assists per game since 2022 for the Portland Trail Blazers.
An elite defender and ball handler, Holiday has experience setting up some of the NBA’s top scorers. He was Giannis Antetokounmpo’s point guard during some of the Greek Freak’s best seasons and recently helped first-time All-Star Deni Avdija average a career high in points per game. Playing alongside other playmakers, he is comfortable taking a backseat on offense if it’s for the betterment of the team. Multiple times throughout his career, he’s moved over to play shooting guard if it’s for the betterment of the team. When he was with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017, he took a backseat and played the two guard spot so Rajon Rondo could run the offense, and he did the same from 2023-2025 when he played for the Boston Celtics so Derrick White could play point.
When it comes to his ability to make big plays when it matters most? Well, the NBA’s YouTube Channel has a great highlight reel of some of his most clutch defensive plays, but I think one play speaks out about his ability to perform when he’s needed most, more than others, especially to Suns fans…
Holiday’s ability to play his best in the big moments, combined with his malleability, makes him an ideal fit next to Booker. While he just turned 36, we’ve continued to see guards play at high levels late into their 30s. Just look at what Chris Paul did in Phoenix.
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For any deal to happen, Phoenix would likely have to trade Jalen Green, which seems unlikely. Additionally, Damian Lillard is set to return next season after missing the year with a torn Achilles, and Scoot Henderson showed some promise during Portland’s playoff run. The Suns likely don’t have the draft capital to give the Blazers to make adding Green worth it. If the Blazers were to trade Holiday, it appears they’d do it for a player that wasn’t a guard to free up more space in the backcourt, or to a team that could give them more lucrative draft capital.
No one should expect Holiday to be a Sun next season, but the idea of pairing Booker alongside an elite defender who plays his best during the biggest moments is tantalizing.
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