There would never be a good time to lose Devin Booker to injury, but ahead of a three-game Western Conference blowout, things are as bad as they can get. His absence made things even tougher against the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves and (21-1!) Oklahoma City Thunder.
Suns need to keep Grayson Allen past the trade deadline.
What this setback has also shown for the team is that they need to keep Grayson Allen past the trade deadline.
We made the case not too long ago that Allen really should go because his trade value has never been higher and the franchise needs to create some more money to bring back Collin Gillespie next season.
But we’ve seen Allen take on a bigger offensive role this season under head coach Jordan Ott, the importance of which only increases without Booker.
Grayson Allen’s hangtime on this dunk is unreal 😳 pic.twitter.com/O70cuoT53s
— Erik Ruby (@ErikRuby) November 30, 2025
He’s had his own share of injuries and didn’t appear in the most recent win over the Los Angeles Lakers, but at this point he’s become so much more than an elite three-point shooter.
Allen is still at his deadliest when firing from deep, but head coach Jordan Ott has trusted him with the ball in his hands more to create for others. This is reflected in the 20.9 percent usage rate he has when he’s out there, a career high so far.
His Player Efficiency Rating of 17.4 is also a career high, and while that’s a catch-all number that many shy away from, the eye test bears it all out. Allen is as committed as a playmaker as he’s ever been, while defensively having his best season as a pro.
So while the temptation will be to cash in on something that can help the organization in the long run, Allen’s value seems to go up another level if he plays without Booker.
He will be tasked with creating even more, while his ability to work with Dillon Brooks will also be useful. Brooks will try to take on the responsibility himself, but Allen’s underrated passing and ability to create space will be utilized by coach Ott.
Allen is also currently the second-longest-tenured Sun behind Booker and has become a fan favorite in The Valley. At a time when the team is trying to be competitive and coach Ott is relying on his veterans to win games, they need a player like Allen.
This may seem like a decision made only with the short term in mind, but there will be other opportunities to trade Allen. Instead, giving him more responsibility while Booker is injured and staying competitive is the right move.
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