There’s a really good write up on Phoenix over in the Assassin sub-forum.
https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/d2r/t/questions-regarding-elemental-assassin-build/36770
I just wanted to point out, you don’t need to go trapper through normal, you can make a fists of fire build that will shred normal just as much as wake of fire will. It will keep you in the melee mood and gearing as opposed to setting up for a trapper then doing a full 180 to melee.