Insider suggests Suns-Hornets Jusuf Nurkic trade
The The Phoenix Suns are on the rise in a way that no one expected this season. Injuries to both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal cost the Suns, and the team struggled when either was sidelined. As a result, the Suns currently sit at just 18-19 and sit in 11th place in the Western Conference.
That poor record put the Suns in an interesting spot. They can either try to make a move to win now by going all-in on this roster even more than they already have, or they can start looking to the future with an outdated, expensive roster by getting rid of some of their more expensive veterans. One of those players is the starting center Jusuf NurkicWHO could be on the move soon according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
“The Suns face similar challenges with the suddenly out-of-favor Jusuf Nurkic, who wasn’t just relegated to the bench like Beal — Nurkic lost CD entirely for Phoenix’s last two games,” Stein wrote. “Given that Nurkic owed $19.4 million in the 2025-2026 period. , creating a trade market for him has so far proved barely easier than establishing a market for Beal. The Suns have three floating second-round picks (in addition to a first-rounder in 2031) to try to convince a team like Charlotte to take on Nurkic’s contract for a package led by Hornets big man Nick Richards … but how many would they that cost those three elections?”
Related Phoenix Suns NewsThe article continues below
Richards would objectively be a better fit in Phoenix as a younger, more athletic big man who would add a sense of explosiveness to the offense. not with a finisher under the rim like Nurkic. As a result, the Suns benched him completely the last few games, and also sent Beal to the bench.
Moving away from Nurkic would likely help the team defensively in addition to adding some athleticism to the roster. If the Suns want to turn things around and climb back up the Western Conference standings, they need to make a big move one way or another.
2025-01-12 20:29:00
