NBA Notes: Suns, Devin Booker, Nuggets, Christian Braun, Warriors

Suns

The Suns made several changes around Devin Booker this offseason.

Whether that’s enough to get Phoenix back into contention remains to be seen.

As Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic noted, Booker will once again be counted on as the team’s primary scorer and playmaker despite an active summer that included adding Luke Kennard and Miles Bridges while bringing back Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin and Mark Williams.

Phoenix also parted with Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, putting even more of the offensive burden on Booker as the Suns look to return to the playoffs. They were swept by the Thunder in the first round this past season.

Nuggets

Christian Braun is ready to turn the page.

After injuries limited him to 44 games last season, the Nuggets guard said he’s fully motivated heading into the first year of his new five-year, $125 million extension.

“Sometimes it’s good to get punched in the mouth a little bit,” Braun told Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports. “It’s good to have that little setback.”

Braun added that his focus this summer has been getting his ankle healthy, and he has no doubts about bouncing back.

“I’m going to be OK,” he said. “This team is resilient. This team is really good. It’s a championship-built roster.”

Warriors

The Warriors are adding another championship coach to Steve Kerr‘s staff.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, former Lakers and Suns coach Frank Vogel has agreed to become Golden State’s associate head coach.

Vogel brings more than two decades of NBA coaching experience to the Warriors, highlighted by leading the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship. He most recently served as an assistant with the Mavericks after spending one season as Phoenix’s head coach.

The addition helps fill the void left after Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse departed Kerr’s staff earlier this offseason.