It is not the most eye-popping trade in the world, but nonetheless it fills a need. Less than two hours before the NBA trade deadline becomes a memory, the Phoenix Suns have finally dealt away disgruntled veteran big man Jusuf Nurkic.
As reported by ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania on social media, Nurkic will be on his way to the Charlotte Hornets:
“The Phoenix Suns are trading Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic and a 2026 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN.”
This is the second trade in less than a month that the Suns have made with Charlotte, originally sending Josh Okogie and three second-round picks in exchange for Nick Richards and one second-round pick on January 15.
Nurkic and Martin were both speculated to be a part of these original discussions, but Phoenix did not have this first-round pick available to trade back then. The Suns acquired the ability to use this pick by trading their highly valued 2031 first-round pick to the Utah Jazz for three less favorable firsts in 2025, 2027 and 2029.
This opened their ability to also trade their 2026 and 2028 picks because of the Stepien Rule, which prevents teams from dealing future first-round selections in consecutive years. The 2026 first rounder is the least favorable among the Suns, Wizards, Magic and Grizzlies.
Martin will bring much-needed wing size and shooting to Phoenix at 6-foot-6 and is averaging a career-high 7.8 points on 32.3% shooting from 3-point range and 4.5 rebounds over 39 games played in his sixth NBA season.
Phoenix now has a trio of point guards on their roster with Micic, who is averaging 7.5 points with a dismal 34.8% field goal percentage and 3.5 assists across 36 games (16 starts). The 31-year-old is in his third NBA season.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe financial aspect of these two players is very favorable for the Suns going forward as well.
Nurkic now lands in the ‘Queen City’, Charlotte as most likely the team’s starting center after the Hornets dealt Mark Williams to the Los Angeles Lakers late Wednesday night.
Nurkic’s time with Phoenix comes to an end after he landed in the Valley prior to the 2023-24 campaign, emerging as one of the many chess pieces in the massive trade that sent former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton to the Portland Trailblazers and Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Initially, Nurkic was praised for his vision with the ball in his hands on top of his rebounding prowess. Filling in for the departed Ayton, the Suns coveted his uncanny ability to clean the glass while also being seen as a pass-friendly big man.
With their star trio of Beal, Booker and Durant, Phoenix did not require a center to stuff the stat sheet and put up 25 points per night.
Yet over time, Nurkic’s performance began to decline and wore thin on fans in Phoenix. He was often taken advantage of on the defensive end while turnovers became an ongoing issue for the Bosnian Beast as well.
After the first few months of the 2024-25 season, head coach Mike Budenholzer demoted Nurkic, and soon after the Suns acquired their new starting center in Richards from the Hornets.
The writing on the wall for his departure was inevitable, especially after Nurkic said the following on his relationship with Budenholzer:
“We don’t have a relationship. So, it’s fine. For me, just be a pro and do the best I can. Work and stay ready for whatever might be, but there is no chaos or bringing that to this team. They already have plenty of it. Trying to be as professional as I can and work my ass off for something else.”
Now, that new opportunity has come to fruition.
