It’s no secret that the fizzling Phoenix Suns are looking to change things up via trade, and the conversation revolves mainly around guard Bradley Beal ($50.2 million salary) and center Jusuf Nurkic ($18.2 M). Stirring the already bubbling pot of rumors, Monday brought an announcement that both swap candidates were being benched, effective immediately.
Given Beal’s behemoth contract and no-trade clause, moving him, though doable, would require intricate cooperation between teams. While a Nurkic trade would not generate the same explosive headlines, it would gratify Suns fans dissatisfied with the ex-Blazers big man.
How Jusuf Nurkic Lost Favor with Phoenix Suns
Since arriving from Portland, Nurkic has not contributed the way the franchise hoped. The 14.4 PPG he averaged as a Blazer (2016-17 to 2022-23) has dipped to 10.2 PPG in Phoenix, including just 8.6 PPG this season. (Career stats here.)
Part of that is simply less shot volume playing alongside Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, but still, his lumbering but erstwhile productive game has clearly eroded.
With the fire power Phoenix already has, defense is a bigger issue. Rim protection in particular has been a point of criticism on the Bosnian center’s defense. That Nurkic has never been a stalwart defender has inevitably led to malcontent.
Two years ago, Nurkic himself arrived in trade with Portland to replace Deandre Ayton. Though he provided superior shot blocking and paint presence, Ayton failed to reach the star-level ceiling the team hoped he would as a #1 overall pick. Toward the end of his time in Phoenix, on a 4-year, $130 M contract, his attitude posed an even greater problem, leading to reports of a toxic locker room presence.
Now, the fanbase has grown sour on Nurkic as well. If the Febuary 6 trade deadline finds him elsewhere, betting odds have given shape to a list of potential landing places.
Suitors in the Market Parlor
Most teams on the list are in various degrees of tank mode, with the exception of the Spurs (18-18, +800 to acquire Nurkic), the Rockets (24-12, +400), and the Miami Heat (18-17, +400).
The Hornets (+800), the Nets (+700), and the Pistons (+400) are also contenders. The Trail Blazers are named as well, at +800 odds. The Washington Wizards (6-29) top the group at +300.
The Washington Wizards are the favorites to win the Jusuf Nurkic sweepstakes, per @BovadaOfficial
Washington Wizards +300
Miami Heat +400
Houston Rockets +400
Detroit Pistons +400
Brooklyn Nets +700
Charlotte Hornets +800
San Antonio Spurs +800
Portland Trail Blazers +800 pic.twitter.com/L6n9hbL06g— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 8, 2025
Potential Trade Scenarios With Wizards, Hornets (Disclaimer: Not Bobby Marks or an active General Manager)
Because the Suns cannot aggregate players in trades due to second-apron salary cap restrictions, the only two-team move they could viably look to pull off with Washington would be a swap likes the following.
C Jusuf Nurkic + draft pick (s) => Wizards
C Jonas Valanciunas + random player => Suns
Sacrificing their scant draft capital to swap Nurkic (8.6 PPG, 9.2 PPG) for Valanciunas (11.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG), two players with similar skillsets and plodding style, doesn’t make a lot of sense for Phoenix. Most likely, a third team would need to be involved.
Rick Scuteri, AP
In any transaction involving Nurkic, the Suns will need to bring back a center as some component of the deal. The only other options on the roster are Mason Plumlee, rookie Oso Ighodaro, and Bol Bol, none of whom are near-starting caliber.
Alternatively, they could look to orchestrate a two-teamer with Charlotte targeting defense-first rim-runner Nick Richards (9.2 PPG, 7.7 RPG). Acquiring both Richards and Mark Williams (12.6 PPG, 7.7 RPG) would from the Hornets would account for both defensive and offensive concerns at the position.
A simple, bare-bones version of one possible deal might look like this.
C Jusuf Nurkic + Josh Okogie + draft pick (s) => Hornets
C Nick Richards + C Mark Williams + SF Cody Martin => Suns
Will Owner Matt Ishbia Empty the Clip To Deal Nurkic, Beal?
To convince Charlotte to part with their two best big men on cheap contracts (2 yrs, $5 M and 2 yrs, $ 4m), Phoenix would likely need to shell out significant draft capital. Depleted by the haul sent out to acquire Durant from Brooklyn, the Suns currently hold only two unrestricted first round picks of (both 2031, one from Denver).
Their 2026 first rounder is subject to pick swaps from multiple teams and holds little value for an opening draft night selection.
They also hold second round selections for 2026 and 2031. Obtaining a significant upgrade in any trade involving either Nurkic or Beal would likely leave the cupboard bare.
Owner Matt Ishbia has shown a penchant for incendiary deals. Not just Suns fans but the rest of the league is watching to see what he’ll do next.
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