Phoenix Suns talk about initial offseason targets

The Suns' clear path for now is that they need to add a go-to scorer, more size and improve defensively, in attention and scheme as well as personnel.

"Had we snuck into the playoffs, we would not have been honest with ourselves about where this franchise is and where we need to go," Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said. "We're going to find the solutions, but we've got a lot of work to do."

The only immediate changes would come with the June 23 draft, where the Suns will pick 13th if their 2.2 percent chance of moving into the top three via the May 17 draft lottery does not occur. The Suns also continue to analyze various scenarios with a new CBA, which will have a lower salary cap to further restrict what the Suns can spend.

"We've got to be little better from the standpoint of being able to have a go-to guy where we don't count on Steve (Nash) to create every play at the end of the game and to make every shot in situations like that," coach Alvin Gentry said. "That's something that we have to look at. We have to get better overall size-wise. But if we add size, it has to be good players. We can't be adding size just to be adding size. We have to continue to get better defensively. I was a little bit disappointed this year, because I thought we took a step back from where we were."

Gentry opened his media session Thursday by saying, "Yeah, Steve's coming back." Babby again called Nash "the sun, the moon and the stars."

"I just can't imagine a scenario where he won't be back, but there's honestly uncertainty about everything," Babby said. "We want him back. We recognize his value here. We may have to find better ways to utilize him and to utilize the pieces around him. We probably put too much burden on him this year. Anybody who begins the analysis of the Phoenix Suns and where we're headed with anything that suggests Steve Nash is the problem and not the solution is looking at it backward."

Babby said guard Vince Carter understands that his contract "creates a problem." Carter has an $18 million salary for next season, but the Suns acquired him because he could be waived by June 30 and owed only $4 million.

Babby said he "can't contemplate the notion of going forward without" Grant Hill, the team's only unrestricted free agent, but will relinquish negotiating with Hill because he is his former client and is represented by Babby's former firm.

On trading Goran Dragic and Orlando's No. 23 pick for Aaron Brooks to make a playoff push, Babby said the "jury is out" on the deal, but Gentry said he thinks Brooks is part of their future. Brooks will be a restricted free agent, allowing the Suns to match any offer from another team.