B/R Reveals Suns' Biggest Weakness

Bleacher Report is never afraid to drop provocative content, and this is no different.

B/R writer Greg Swartz came out with a piece centered around what every NBA team would prioritize the most if the trade deadline was today.

The Phoenix Suns unsurprisingly were tabbed to explore center upgrades.

Swartz goes on to all but label current starting center Jusuf Nurkic as a liability, saying on record:

"Trading Deandre Ayton was the right move for the Suns, but that doesn't mean that Jusuf Nurkić is the answer, either."

Swartz gets off to a solid start, acknowledging that Ayton was also a major question mark, namely as a fit, but his reasoning surrounding Nurkic gets very faulty:

"Yes, his passing has been good for a Phoenix team that largely operates without a traditional point guard and has had a healthy Bradley Beal for just three games. His weaknesses can't be overlooked, however, especially on a championship-hopeful team.

"Nurkić isn't a good defender and is allowing opponents to shoot 62.0 percent at the rim this season. The 29-year-old is shooting a career-low 40.4 percent overall and has been a disaster from outside the arc (25.8 percent on 2.6 attempts per game).

"The Suns don't need an All-Star center, but rather one that can defend, hit open threes and screen for the rest of the stars on this roster. Nurkić just isn't a great fit."

Yes, Swartz is correct that Nurkic has been exceptionally inefficient from all three levels and has given up a good amount of easy points at the basket, but that's about all that he hits on here.

Nurkic is far from a perfect big, but what he does well can't be overstated and also fits what Phoenix needs.

Nurkic is one of the better passing big mans in the NBA, while also being a strong rebounder (particularly on the offensive side of the ball). Nurkic also serves as a strong off-ball screener and has been much better than expected on defense - still not great but not a liability, either.

Swartz also fails to mention the emergence of Drew Eubanks as a super-powered vet minimum player. The backup big man has done a bit of everything for Phoenix this season, save for shooting the three-ball.

The more logical approach to this scenario is looking for a third big to potentially eat regular-season minutes and serve mop-up duty in the postseason.

Phoenix's only other bigs on the roster are the little-used Bol Bol and two-way center Udoka Azuibuke, who also hasn't participated in many games thus far.

The Suns are also asset-strapped, and the collection of picks/players they have could only net them a player such as former player Richaun Holmes.

Is the Suns' need for a third big man really worth a second round pick and other minimum contract players? Possibly. The right idea is there, the reasoning and viability is just faulty.