NBA Scout Rips Suns' Lack of Physicality as Kevin Durant 'Doesn't Want to Play the 4'

The Phoenix Suns need a major overhaul to their roster if they want to compete for an NBA championship, according to one scout.

"They are poorly constructed," the scout told Ric Bucher of Fox Sports. "Where is their bench? Where is their rim-protecting, shot-blocking big as a starter or off the bench? Where is a decision-making point guard as a starter or off the bench? Where is their 6'7" defensive wing? Where is a power forward who plays with size and physicality, since KD doesn't want to play the 4? Where is their size? They are too small. All of that is essential to a winning franchise with championship aspirations."

The Suns were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs despite spending heavily to pair Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The trio will make a combined $151.1 million next season, or about $10 million more than the projected salary cap. Add in the $33.7 million heading Jusuf Nurkic and Grayson Allen's way, and they're already above the first tax apron with five players.

Phoenix has been bound to be a second-apron team from the moment it acquired Beal, but this will greatly limit the front office's ability to land role players. The occasional late-career player may want to try chasing a ring in Phoenix, but these Suns did not look close to winning a championship.

The Suns spent most of the season closer to being a Play-In Tournament team than a true contender. While Beal's injury issues played a factor in the team's inability to cohesively play together, they're still lacking a true primary ball-handler, rim protection and depth on the bench.

Those aren't issues that are going to be easily solvable with the minimum contracts the Suns will have available.