Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker is “upset” with the Phoenix Suns after the team released his best friend Tyler Ulis, reports Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports:
Sources: As he becomes eligible for five-year maximum rookie extension, Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker is upset with the front office over release of best friend Tyler Ulis, who started 43 games last season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2018
The Suns drafted Ulis 34th overall in 2016, one year after they drafted Booker 13th overall. The two played together at the University of Kentucky in the 2014-15 season, where they were both freshman guards.
In two seasons with the Suns, Ulis averaged 7.6 points and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 40.3 percent from the field and 28 percent from 3-point range. At just 5 feet, 10 inches, Ulis is an inevitably poor defender. That, plus the fact that he has yet to prove that he can consistently shoot from outside, make him difficult to play. Nevertheless, Ulis is a talented scorer and playmaker. If he can figure out his 3-point shot, there’s a chance he could be a solid reserve scorer (think Isaiah Thomas-lite).
Despite Ulis’ weaknesses, it is surprising to see the Suns do anything that could disgruntle Booker, their franchise star.
Booker had the finest season of his young career in 2017-18, posting career-high averages in scoring (24.9), rebounding (4.5) and assisting (4.7) despite playing slightly fewer minutes per game than he did in his sophomore season. He also shot career-best marks from the field (43.2 percent), 3-point range (38.3 percent) and the free-throw line (87.8 percent).
