Jusuf Nurkic Situation Worsens After Another Suns Loss
While the entire NBA world was stunned by Luka Doncic’s trade to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, the Phoenix Suns found themselves facing yet another disappointment. This time, they suffered a demoralizing loss to the rebuilding Portland Trail Blazers, adding to their struggles this season.
Even acquiring Jimmy Butler wouldn’t be enough to save the Suns—especially when the Lakers just added Doncic. The real question is why the Suns turned a highly valuable 2031 first-round pick into three earlier picks. It certainly wasn’t to land Butler.
The Forgotten Jusuf Nurkic
Head coach Mike Budenholzer used 14 players in the 127-108 loss, but Nurkic was not one of them. His time with the Suns was already over, and his recent interview was the final nail in the coffin. However, the fact that Bol Bol played before Nurkic made the situation even more embarrassing for the Bosnian big man.
Adding to the Suns’ woes, Deandre Ayton—who was traded away in the deal that brought Nurkic and Grayson Allen—had a revenge game against his former team. While Devin Booker exploded for 37 points, it was Ayton who walked away with the win, contributing 24 points and seven rebounds in 33 minutes.
“The quiet Lakers name I have on my radar right now is Deandre Ayton. He could probably be had for a song. His contract expires after next season, so it’s a pretty low-risk addition. See if Luka, LeBron, and JJ could rediscover that 2021 form.”— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS), February 2, 2025
What Could Have Been for Ayton and the Suns
Despite his flaws—particularly his inconsistent engagement—Ayton remains a much better option than Nurkic. He’s younger, less injury-prone, and offers the defensive presence the Suns desperately need. That’s exactly why they originally chose him over Doncic in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Had Ayton performed like this while still in Phoenix, the Suns wouldn’t have given up on him for such an underwhelming return. While his tenure in Portland hasn’t been outstanding, performances like this one show his potential as a game-changer on both ends of the court.
Meanwhile, the Suns now find themselves stuck trying to offload Nurkic, likely attaching one of their three newly acquired picks to make a trade happen. While Grayson Allen has been a solid addition, he can’t impact a game the way Ayton can.
Suns’ Trade Blunder Becomes More Painful
The situation is further complicated by Toumani Camara, who was included in the trade despite showing promise in Summer League. Against the Suns, he started, played a team-high 36 minutes, and delivered 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 steals.
“This man improves every night. Ceiling is limitless at this point. Defense is immaculate, and offense is improving this year.”— CamaraMuse (@CamaraMuse), February 2, 2025
While this may have been Camara’s best game of the season—driven by a desire for revenge against the Suns—at least he’s contributing. Nurkic, on the other hand, will never suit up for the Suns again. Even when he did play, many of the team’s defensive issues stemmed from his sluggish style.
As time passes, the trade that sent Ayton and Camara away only looks worse. The Suns now lack the type of young, athletic player they let go, and their attempt to turn a long-term asset into short-term fixes has backfired.
