A $19.3 million trade chip that could come in handy this season
The Utah Jazz are off to a rough start this 2025-26 NBA season. on top of that, Jazz center Walker Kessler is out for the season with an injury.
Kessler was the usual trade candidate in many rumorsbut now he’s sidelined, and that’s a tough blow for Utah as well. Lauri Markkanen is another jazz player whose name has been included in the tradeso there is a lot of activity in Utah right now.
And another big man could be gone from Utah at some point this season.
NBA insider Marc Stein revealed some insights in his latest Substack, and one was about Jusuf Nurkic as potential trade piece for Utah.
“Jusuf Nurkic, meanwhile, has played well enough in Utah that he’s expected to draw interest from rival teams as he plays out his $19.3 million expiring contract.”
In the 2024-25 season, Nurkic was with the Phoenix Suns before trade to the Charlotte Hornets. He was then traded to the Jazz in the Colin Sexton deal, so that was a lot of movement for the veteran big man.
Nurkic has played 24 games for the Jazz this year, averaging a career-high 7.5 points and 9.6 rebounds, but is a name to watch as the deadline approaches.
He was originally selected by the Denver Nuggets in the 2014 NBA Draft, but was then traded To the Portland Trail Blazers for Mason Plumlee at the deadline. Now his name is back in trade discussions, and he could be a name to watch.
2025-11-26 18:59:00
