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    Shot Clock: Kyrie Irving to Suns?

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    CP3 joins Harden; Miggy’s mouth misfires

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Some guys capture the imagination. They do things others don’t and create a sense of awe and wonder. They make you dream of the future.

To listen to Phoenix coach Earl Watson, the Suns have two such guys on the roster, and it’s why I’m convinced that trade rumors that involve sending Josh Jackson to Cleveland in a package for Kyrie Irving are baseless. That story has had its run and can go away now.

“I love Josh Jackson,” Watson said Monday. “Something about him is just uncommon.”

Devin Booker, meanwhile, “always had that edge.”

“(Those) two together are going to be great young guys who can push other guys to become better because they’re so inner competitive,” Watson said.

Jackson addressed the trade talk in a SiriusXM NBA Radio interview recently, saying he never has been told that he wouldn’t be traded. The comments made headlines immediately.

He came across as skeptical, saying, “I think if that was going to happen, it would have happened by now.”

But he also said, “I’m going to make the best of whatever situation that I’m presented with. If I’m traded to China, whatever, I’m going to come out, and I’m going to be happy and just try to make the best of it.”

(Good answer, young fella.)

Let’s play along a bit, following logic to see if we can get rid of this conversation and start to focus on the season, especially since the schedules were released Monday, and we now know that four of the first five games are going to be at home.

If the Suns get Irving, but give up Eric Bledsoe and Jackson to get him, we would see conflict over leadership in the backcourt and below-average defense on the wing. There also would be anxiety over whether Irving, who has two years left on his contract, would re-sign in Phoenix.

None of this sounds like a winning mix.

With Golden State looking poised to dominate the West, it would make sense for General Manager Ryan McDonough, who doesn’t comment on trade rumors, to focus on identifying stars of the future, which Booker and Jackson could become, rather than stars of the present, such as Irving.

MOORE: Suns shouldn’t give up Josh Jackson for Kyrie Irving

Consider Oklahoma City a few years ago, the Thunder extended Serge Ibaka and traded James Harden. In retrospect, it looks like they were playing to the present, since Western Conference powers at the time — the Lakers, Mavericks, Grizzlies and Spurs — all had powerful frontcourts.

If they had been able to keep Harden, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, even if it would have meant losing Ibaka, the Thunder would have competed at the time and been poised to challenge further into the future when rosters shifted to focus on outside play.

This is where the Suns are. It’s what “the Timeline” is all about: Keeping the right guys for the present and the future — the kinds of guys who recognize their opportunities and have the ability to make fans daydream.

Already, Booker has his 70-point night and the showdown with Westbrook that ended with the Suns guard screaming, “This is my house!”

Need more? Go to Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe. At the iconic Phoenix soul food spot, you’ll find a signed poster of Charles Barkley. Another of Michael Carbajal. But it’s Devin Booker’s name that plays the role of John Hancock.

“D Book #1” is easily the largest and most recognizable autograph scrawled on the diner’s walls, which serve as a who’s who of Phoenix sports.

Booker seems to know he has the opportunity and ability to become a Phoenix legend, and maybe he’s ready to take the next step.

As for Jackson, he turned heads during summer league and turned up the momentum during pickup games at UCLA last week, Watson said.

With dozens of NBA players in attendance, including Harden, Paul George and Alec Burks, Jackson stood out as “a guy that can score. A guy that can defend. A guy that can pass. A guy that can handle. And a guy that’s a vocal leader. And he has a presence on the court that’s uncommon for his age,” Watson said.

That presence might be 2 inches taller than it was when he was drafted.

Watson, responding to a question about a reported growth spurt would have taken Jackson from 6-foot-8 to 6-10, said he didn’t notice a change.

But “if he did, we love it, and even if he didn’t … let’s build the legend,” Watson joked.

“Yeah, he grew,” Watson continued. “Absolutely. He’s like 7 feet now … anyone coming up against him should be intimidated by his constant growth vertically, in height, and ability to play above the rim.

“Let’s just throw it out there.”

This doesn’t come off like big talk to boost trade value. It sounds like genuine optimism for the present and future from a coach who believes he got two guys who can and will be able to compete with anybody.

It’s not enough for me to think this team will contend for a title or even a playoff spot this season.

But it’s enough for me to put this trade story away.

RELATED: Former Cavaliers GM: I think Kyrie Irving will end up getting traded

MORE: Your take: Get this Kyrie Irving trade done, Suns?

RELATED: Report details Phoenix Suns trade offer for Kyrie Irving

Reach Moore at [email protected] or 602-444-2236. Follow him at twitter.com/WritingMoore.

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