Suns trade Jusuf Nurkic to Charlotte Hornets after short-lived run

The Phoenix Suns are trading Jusuf Nurkic to the Charlotte Hornets to end a tumultuous, short-lived run with the franchise, sources confirmed with The Arizona Republic before Thursday’s 1 p.m. NBA trade deadline.

The Suns announced the trade Thursday night as they dealt Nurkic and a 2026 first-round pick to the Hornets for 6-6 forward Cody Martin, 6-3 guard Vasilije Micic and a 2026 second-round pick.

Sources informed The Republic the Suns had to include a first-round pick for this deal to transpire as they have been trying to move Nurkic for weeks. Nurkic is in the third year of a four-year, $70-million contract.

Nurkic averaged 8.6 points and 9.2 rebounds in his second season with the Suns which ended with him completely taken out of the rotation by first-year Suns coach Mike Budenholzer.

The move comes after Phoenix missing out on landing Jimmy Butler from the Heat, who wound up at Golden State in a multi-team trade.

All things Suns: Latest Phoenix Suns news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

The Suns also entertained calls and interests from NBA teams, including the Warriors, about Kevin Durant, but didn’t trade the 15-time All-Star and two-time finals MVP.

The 7-footer last played Jan. 7 at Charlotte where he is now headed to play for the 12-36 Hornets. A little more than two weeks later, a candid Nurkic told The Republic that he and Budenholzer hadn’t talked for two months.

“We don’t have a relationship,” Nurkic said. “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.”

Nurkic also said, “One door close, another will open eventually, sooner or later.”

He’s now going to Charlotte to address a need at center. The Hornets traded Mark Williams to the Los Angeles Lakers for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap, ESPN reported.

Last month, the Suns traded Josh Okogie and three second-round picks to Charlotte for 7-footer Nick Richards, who was a backup to Williams, and a second-round selection. Richards became the starting center in his second game with the Suns after posting 21 points and 11 rebounds in his Suns debut on Jan. 18 at Detroit.

The Suns initially acquired Nurkic from Portland in a three-team deal right before the 2023-24 training camp that sent Deandre Ayton to the Blazers and Damian Lillard to Milwaukee.

He averaged a double-double of 10.9 points on 51% shooting, 11 rebounds and four assists in his first season with the Suns in 76 games, the most he’s played since suffering a stress fracture to his right leg in 2017.

Nurkic came into this season optimistic about being more involved under Budenholzer after playing for Frank Vogel last season. Dropping weight in the offseason, Nurkic looked to attempt more 3s, but he started the season 1-of-11 from deep.

Add his struggles to finish around the basket and being a liability at times on defense, Nurkic fell out of the starting lineup starting Jan. 6 at Philadelphia. Mason Plumlee became the starter.

Budenholzer later didn’t play him in two games before Nurkic missed four games with the flu. He then missed a couple more games reconditioning, but never saw the court again for the Suns.

While Nurkic went to Charlotte, Martin and Micic are interesting additions for Phoenix.

Martin gives the Suns some perimeter depth as a defender. Averaging a career-best 7.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals this season, Martin shot a career-best 38.4% from 3 in the 2022-21 season. He’s in his sixth season as his twin brother, Caleb, was traded from Philadelphia to Dallas.

Source link