Azir changes are nerfs more than anything.

The main strength of the champion was keeping people at distance and away from him using his immense range and high mobility. It really defeats the purpose the AP kite DPS if you make it so his sand soldiers control range is within range of every single other champion to engage. As it was his old range was still short enough for a majority of the popular initiation champions to engage on him, but now literally every thing can take a shot at him.

To make matters worst you also shifted around damage alot by reducing the AP ratios on him as well as making it so he doesn't even deal full damage to secondary targets till level 11.