The Phoenix Suns are exchanging Jusuf Nurkic and a first round of 2026 to the Charlotte Hornets for Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic and a second round of 2026, the sources told Shams Charania de Espn.
The 7 -foot Nurkic has not played for the Suns since January 7. It began 23 games this season before being transferred to the bank in early January.
He told the journalists last month that he and coach Mike Budenholzer “do not have a relationship.”
“It’s hard to understand why,” said Nurkic last month about Budenholzer transferred to the bank. “As you know, I try to do what they want from me. I play my role or whatever, but at the end of the day, it is the NBA.”
Nurkic averages 8.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Phoenix acquired it from the Portland Trail Blazers in an exchange of three teams before the 2023-24 season, starting 76 games that year and averaging 10.9 points and 11.0 rebounds.
Next year is the final season of the four years and $ 70 million, the 30 -year -old signed with Portland. Nurkic is winning $ 18.1 million this season.
Martin, 29, had spent the six years in the league with Charlotte after they selected him with the selection No. 36 in 2019 and was one of the few constants for a Hornets list that has seen a continuous change in recent years.
Martin is emerging as a strong attacking defender as a 6 -feet wing 6, routinely assuming the best scorer of the opposing team. Martin has fought as a shooter, however, averaging 31.9% in 3s for his career.
Martin signed a four -year agreement with Charlotte in 2022; He has a year left and around $ 8.6 million in the agreement after this season.
Micic, a Euroleague star who arrived at the NBA two years ago, is in the last guaranteed year of his agreement. It has a $ 8 million team option for the next season.
Phoenix exchanged his first round of 2031 unprotected to Utah jazz last month for three significantly lower value selections: what will be Cleveland’s selection in 2025, and the youngest of Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah selections both in 2027 as in 2029.
As a result of tradeing the 2026 selection in this agreement, Phoenix can now exchange selections in 2028, 2029 or 2030.
Tim Bontemps of ESPN contributed to this report.
