The Republic | azcentral.com

DALLAS – Devin Booker has decided whom he wants as the Suns coach next season.

The current coach.

Booker said Monday that he’d like to see Phoenix retain interim coach Jay Triano, who has led the Suns to a 10-18 record since taking over for Earl Watson, fired three games into the season.

“Me and Triano have that relationship. He’s somebody I’m comfortable with and somebody I’ve been around for a long time,” Booker said. “I love Triano. I don’t make those calls but he’s been doing a wonderful job since he’s been here and I would vouch for him. He’s been really good.”

Booker’s support for Triano shouldn’t be understated. The Suns are expected to offer Booker a five-year contract extension worth $156 million next summer, and Booker told azcentral sports in October that he would sign the deal if offered.

As the face of the franchise and the centerpiece of the team’s rebuilding plans, it’s imperative Booker and the Suns coach are on the same page.

“For sure,” Booker said.

Booker believes the Suns’ record under Triano doesn’t reflect the progress the team has made. Phoenix is 1-4 in the five games Booker has missed with a strained left adductor muscle but all four losses were by 10 points or less. The Suns were 4-6 in the 10 games prior to Booker’s injury.

Also, several statistics point to improvement.

Suns stats under Watson | under Triano

Offensive rating: 92.2 | 106.9.

Defensive rating: 121.1 | 111.9.

Opponents’ field goal percentage: 51.5 | 46.4.

Opponents’ 3-point percentage: 50.0 | 36.5.

Assists: 15.3 | 22.2.

Points: 98 | 107.6.

“I think we’re in a lot of games,” Booker said. “We’re fighting hard and we’re playing a full game. That’s really important and Triano has been stressing that to us. He’s giving a lot of players a lot of opportunities but he’s also holding people accountable at the same time which we need.”

Triano also has the support of center Alex Len, who will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Len, who is putting up career numbers in points (9.1), rebounds (9.2), field goal percentage (53.2) and free throw percentage (76.3), said he might be more inclined to sign a new deal with the Suns should Triano get the full-time job.

“I definitely love Jay and love playing for him,” Len said. “It would be something to think about.”

Like Booker, Len believes the Suns are in a better place than their record suggests.

He praised Triano’s acumen and singular focus – “It’s all about basketball” – as well as his willingness to change Phoenix’s schemes in order to better fit the talent. Recently, in an effort to create better player and ball movement, Triano moved away from a pick-and-roll offense to sets in which Phoenix’s centers get the ball at the elbow and then find cutters or shooters.

“A couple of days ago we had a drill where we were playing five-on-five but you can’t dribble the ball,” Len said. “So you had to move the ball, cut hard and get open quick. Jay is always putting in new things. He’s very creative offensively.

“It’s not that we’re even better from the first three games,” Len added. “We’re better than we were a couple of weeks ago. He’s doing a great job.”

MORE:What Booker meant when he asked 'What can Jordan do that I can't?'

SUNS SCHEDULE:Mavs, Clippers and Grizzlies in busy week for Suns

Dirk's drive

Triano was asked what he thinks will be the legacy of Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki.

"The mid-range fadeaway, let up, shooting up top over the right shoulder," Triano said as he pantomimed Nowitzki's shot. "You know he's going to do it. We know he's going to do it tonight. How do you stop it?"

Triano then told a story of how former Mavericks teammate Steve Nash helped Nowitzki became a great shooter.

"I remember coming here (to Dallas) to visit Steve and he and Dirk lived in the same condo complex," Triano said. "At night they would come back to the gym and they would shoot one-on-one with one on one end and one on the other. They'd have a competition between themselves, like shoot threes from the top of the key, rebound their own ball, run to get it and see who beat who. I really think (that's when) Dirk learned how to shoot the ball like a guard from the perimeter and from deep.

"I know when he first got into the NBA the guy he hung out with was one of the hardest workers in Nash and they would have shooting contests every night and then go to some pub, sit in the back room, have dinner and a beer and get up the next day to go to practice and do the same thing again. The message is the great players go back to the gyms and get the extra shots and extra reps up."

SUNS ROSTER:How much Phoenix Suns players make in 2017-18

Monday's game: Suns at Mavericks

When: 6:30 p.m.

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas.

TV/radio: FSAZ/KTAR 98.7 FM.

Update: The Suns snapped a five-game losing streak with a come-from-behind win over Minnesota on Saturday. ... The Mavericks, at 8-22, have the second-worst record in the NBA and blew an 11-point lead with less than four minutes left against San Antonio on Saturday. ... Dallas ranks 27th in the league in scoring (99.7 points per game). Forward Harrison Barnes leads Dallas in scoring (18.1) and rebounding (7.2). ... Phoenix could be without point guard Tyler Ulis, who dislocated the middle finger of his right hand late in the game against Minnesota. Interim coach Jay Triano said Ulis will be a game-time decision.

NBA POWER RANKINGS:Phoenix Suns break through without Devin Booker

SUNS NEWS:Isaiah Canaan hopes he can find home with Phoenix Suns

SUNS NEWS:Devin Booker, T-wolves' Karl-Anthony Towns brothers on and off court