The Phoenix Suns are reportedly vying to make a trade around their established starting center.
According to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Central, the Suns are “actively looking” to deal away big man Jusuf Nurkic.
As such, Phoenix “are seeking a big in return” in which Chicago Bulls star Nikola Vucevic and Jonas Valanciunas of the Washington Wizards are some of the names that were “thrown into trade talks.”
Nurkic, 30, is currently in his second season for the Suns and was acquired by the franchise in the 2023 offseason from the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team transaction.
The Bosnian center has been averaging 9.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 24.5 minutes this season — relatively lower than what he tallied last 2023-24 in which he registered 10.9 points, 11.0 boards, and 4.0 assists in 27.3 minutes for 76 games.
A part of Nurkic’s declined numbers has been the Suns’ depth at the center spot. Under new head coach Mike Budenholzer, he has been sharing plenty of on-court minutes at the front with veteran big Mason Plumlee (17.0) and rookie Oso Ighodaro (16.1).
As Phoenix has been witnessing ups and downs thus far this season, their intention to make a move shouldn’t surprise everyone. With a middling 14-14 record that puts them at No. 11 spot in the West, the Suns are certainly feeling a sense of urgency to keep themselves afloat in the Conference’s competition.
Beyond Nurkic, they’ve been rumored as a team to monitor the Jimmy Butler sweepstakes with All-Star guard Bradley Beal a possible asset to utilize.
It is yet to be seen if the Suns will eventually make a necessary trade around Nurkic. If their downslide continues, chances can only go higher that a deal will materialize in the near future.
Related Posts
