The Charlotte Hornets are sending Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic, and a 2026 second round pick to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first round pick according to reports.
The Phoenix Suns are trading Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic and a 2026 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/epRJty7lid
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
If I’m understanding the Suns’ pick situation correctly, the 2026 pick the Suns have to trade is part of a convoluted mess involving pick swaps with multiple teams. From RealGM:
2026 first round draft pick to Washington, Orlando or Memphis (Washington, Orlando or Memphis incoming)
Washington has the right to swap its 2026 1st round pick, protected for selections 9-30 if Washington does not convey a 1st round pick to New York in 2025, for Phoenix’s 2026 1st round pick; Orlando then has the right to swap its 2026 1st round pick for the less favorable of the Phoenix pick and the Washington pick if conveyable; Memphis then has the right to swap its 2026 1st round pick for the least / less favorable of the Phoenix pick, the Washington pick if conveyable and the Orlando pick; if the Washington pick is not conveyable, then the obligation to Washington will be extinguished and Orlando will instead have the right to swap its pick for the Phoenix pick [Indiana-Phoenix-Washington, 6/23/2023; Orlando-Phoenix, 7/17/2023; Brooklyn-Memphis-Phoenix, 2/8/2024]
The Hornets will acquire Nurkic to be their center now that Nick Richards and Mark Williams have been traded away. As with pretty much all of the trades the Hornets have been making over the last calendar year, the player isn’t really important. The crown jewel of the trade is yet another first round pick in the Hornets’ ever growing arsenal of future draft picks.
The loss of Cody Martin and Vasa Micic aren’t terribly difficult to stomach. Martin has been in street clothes more than he’s been on the floor the last couple of seasons. Micic has been consistently healthy but was never part of the long term plans.
The Hornets effectively got a first round pick for taking Nurkic’s contract off the Suns’ books.
Nurkic had fallen out of favor in Phoenix but is still a decent player. He gives the Hornets a strong, physical presence on the interior that brings above average passing and a sporadic ability to step out and hit an open three.
