KD's Discomfort Highlights Suns' Offensive Woes

The Phoenix Suns’ disastrous playoff exit has shed light on the team’s offensive struggles, with reports suggesting Kevin Durant was unsatisfied with his role within head coach Frank Vogel’s system. The future Hall of Famer is said to have “never felt comfortable” with how he was utilized, feeling that not enough plays were designed for him and that he was too often relegated to the corner.

Durant’s frustration is understandable, given his status as one of the league’s premier scorers. Despite having the hot hand in the Suns’ Game 4 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Durant took only 17 shots, well below his regular-season average. This pattern was consistent throughout the series, with the former MVP failing to eclipse 18 shot attempts in any of the games.

The Suns’ failure to maximize Durant’s offensive prowess is just one of the many issues that plagued the team this season. Guard Devin Booker pointed to a lack of attention to “details” as a contributing factor, emphasizing that talent alone is not enough to guarantee success in the modern NBA.

While Vogel’s coaching has come under scrutiny, the front office’s roster construction also deserves criticism. The trio of Durant, Booker, and Bradley Beal – all natural scorers – made for an awkward fit, with no clear facilitator to keep the offense flowing smoothly.

Furthermore, the Suns’ all-in move for their star-studded trio left them with a lack of depth, a problem that general manager James Jones will likely seek to address in the offseason.

As the dust settles on the Suns’ disappointing campaign, questions linger about Vogel’s future with the team. Reports suggest the front office is considering making a coaching change for the second straight offseason, despite Vogel’s recent five-year, $31 million contract extension.

Regardless of the coaching decision, it’s clear that the Suns must reevaluate their offensive approach to better utilize Durant’s skills. A player of his caliber should never feel like a peripheral piece, and finding a way to maximize his impact will be crucial if the Suns hope to contend for a championship next season.