Sometimes, when you're on the ground floor of something, you need to work when others rest. The All-Star break should be a working vacation for Devin Booker, now that the Suns have the slightest sliver of organizational momentum.
I'm talking about recruiting. Or at least building relationships. That is, after all, the next evolution to Devin Booker's stardom. Holding his organization accountable, elevating his brand and teaming up with another star are things he must check off his to-do list if he wants to stay in the upper echelon. LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler and Anthony Davis are just a few players who have declared those things essential for the modern NBA star to being taken seriously. The one guy who's bucked that trend is Damian Lillard, the man who handed Devin Booker his spot. Lillard's team is currently out of the playoffs, even as he embarks on an MVP season. Superteams mean that networking is a necessity, not an extra, and the All-Star game is the perfect place for Devin Booker to plant superteam seeds.
So, here's the plan for the Suns' young star. Call your agent. Ask for a scouting report about which guys have cold feet, which guys have expiring deals and which guys respect your game the most. Next, have an assistant create a portfolio, slideshow or something to share on social media outlining how much you believe in what the Suns are building, how perfect the weather is in Phoenix and how committed Robert Sarver is to building a winner. Maybe start with the renovation of Talking Stick Resort Arena, or Deandre Ayton's 21 and 13 he's averaged in his last 13 games.
Something, anything to capitalize on the slight peek the Suns now have into NBA relevance, now that Devin Booker can officially be called what he's been all season, an All-Star. This is the new NBA, a player's league from which All-Stars now reap the most rewards. The only caveat is, it's now incumbent upon the star to change the organization, not the front office or ownership. For Devin Booker, the real work starts this All-Star weekend.