The Phoenix Suns have finally addressed a major fan concern by moving on from center Jusuf Nurkic at the trade deadline. However, the move came at the cost of a future first-round pick, though they did acquire rotation player Cody Martin in return. With Nurkic no longer sitting on the bench, the team can now look to move forward.
A win over the Utah Jazz on Friday was a welcome follow-up after a tough loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but there’s still a long road ahead for the Suns if they hope to salvage this season. Kevin Durant remained in Phoenix, despite speculation about a potential trade, and it remains to be seen whether his stay will disrupt the team’s dynamics.
However, trading Nurkic won’t be the solution to moving the team forward, which is precisely what they need to do to compete for a championship. Nurkic’s performance on the court had been largely underwhelming, with head coach Mike Budenholzer having already removed him from the rotation in the weeks before the trade deadline.
The fact that they didn’t receive a player in return who could directly help the team win more games—while also surrendering a pick—signals that the Suns may have realized their mistake in the Deandre Ayton for Nurkic and Grayson Allen trade. The move to part with Nurkic seems aimed at moving on from that misstep.
It’s puzzling why the Suns felt the need to trade Nurkic at this moment, especially considering that his expiring contract would have made him easier to move in the offseason, likely without requiring an additional pick. That could have potentially led to a better return or more cap space for future moves. Had they acquired a player who could immediately contribute, the trade would have made sense.
Instead, the Suns find themselves in the same position they were a week ago: able to beat teams like the Jazz, even without Durant, but not yet at the level of elite Western Conference teams like the Thunder. This could mean a play-in appearance or, at best, a first-round exit in the playoffs. Nurkic’s presence on the bench wasn’t going to change that.
The Suns did make a solid move in adding Nick Richards from the Hornets last month, but that’s the kind of addition made by a team with a well-established core that’s already competitive—something the Suns are not. The organization’s uncertainty surrounding Durant’s future only reinforces that point. While Nurkic is gone, the bigger picture in Phoenix remains unchanged.
