The Phoenix Suns have agreed to trade center Jusuf Nurkic to the Charlotte Hornets, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday ahead of the 1 p.m. deadline.
The Suns received Serbian guard Vasilije Micic, small forward Cody Martin and a 2026 second-rounder in exchange for the 30-year-old center and a 2026 first-round pick.
Nurkic has another year left on his current deal. He is earning $18.1 million this season and is set to make $19.4 million in 2025-26.
After Nurkic’s three-game suspension for a scuffle with Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall on Dec. 27, the Bosnian big man was moved out of the starting lineup and came off the bench for Phoenix for two games. It was the first time since the 2016-17 season Nurkic came off the bench.
Nurkic then did not play at all during the next two games due to a coach’s decision. He had not missed a game without an injury designation or suspension since his arrival in Phoenix before the 2023-24 season. He later missed the Jan. 12 game due to an illness and missed the next six games while being out with the flu. Upon returning, he continued to sit on the bench.
Mason Plumlee replaced Nurkic in the Suns’ starting lineup, and rookie big man Oso Ighodaro received an uptick in minutes at center for the Suns without Nurkic.
Phoenix traded for big-man help in the form of Nick Richards on Jan. 15, sending Josh Okogie and three second-round draft picks to the Hornets. The Suns also took back a Denver Nuggets second-round pick in the upcoming draft as part of the trade.
The Suns only had a 2025 second-rounder (via Denver) and a 2031 first-round pick remaining after the Richards trade but dealt the latter to the Utah Jazz for three first-rounders that are heavily weighed down in value by pick swaps.
Jusuf Nurkic’s Suns tenure in review
In September 2023, Phoenix acquired Nurkic in a multi-team deal that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks and Deandre Ayton to the Portland Trail Blazers. He was billed as a more physical center than his predecessor who could also operate the offense as a passer in the high post.
During his first season in the Valley, Nurkic started 76 games for the Suns and averaged 10.9 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 51% from the field.
But this season has been a different story for the 7-footer under new head coach Mike Budenholzer. He first missed 10 games due to finger and ankle injuries before missing more time for the three-game suspension following a tussle with Marshall. Then came the subsequent benching and flu.
He has averaged 8.6 points on 45.4% shooting, both his lowest marks since his 2016-17 season in Portland.
The Suns also carried a minus-6.5 net rating while Nurkic was on the floor this season. Last season, the Suns maintained a plus-9.2 net rating with Nurkic on the floor.
Richards has taken over as the starting center, and in 10 games he has averaged 8.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and o.8 blocks per game while shooting 57.4% from the floor. He has a -2.9 net rating.
Who the Suns added
Micic is 31 years old and in his second NBA season after playing overseas. In 36 games this season, Micic has averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game while shooting 34.8% from the floor and 36% from deep.
He competed for Team Serbia at the Paris Olympics alongside Nikola Jokic.
Martin, 29, is a six-year veteran who has played 39 games this year. He has averaged 7.8 points 2.3 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game, shooting 43.3% from the field and 32.2% from deep.
Micic has an $8.1 million team option for next year. Martin has an $8.7 million cap hit, but his contract is not guaranteed.
