The Phoenix Suns lined up without Jusuf Nurkic for their Sunday night clash against the Charlotte Hornets. After testing positive for the flu, the center was ruled out with an illness. He’s had a rough few weeks where he’s lost his starter spot, received a DNP, and has his name swirling in trade rumors.
“Mike Budenholzer said Jusuf Nurkic tested positive for the flu this morning. He’s currently contagious so it doesn’t seem likely he will be with the team at the start of the five-game road trip.”
This comes after trusted Suns insider John Gambadoro confirmed the team’s interest in trading Nurkic for Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards.
“Suns like Richards he’s athletic with a good contract. Not sure Charlotte would take back Nurkic, but I do believe the two sides are working on this – There is a way to make it happen but it’s not a sure thing.”
Funnily, Richards will be playing off the bench in their game against the Suns tonight. Starting center Mark Williams is finally healthy again, which will relegate Richards to the bench and potentially affect his trade value as he can’t put up the same stats that have gotten teams like the Suns interested.
Nurkic is making $19.0 million this season as compared to Richards’ $5.0 million, so there’s no way to incentivize a straight center swap as the Hornets lose the more valuable player on a cheaper contract. Two second-round picks are not attractive enough to get this deal over the line right now and Phoenix has no avenue to acquire more.
He’s averaging 8.6 points and 9.2 rebounds this season while Richards is averaging 9.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. Nurkic is theoretically a higher-ceiling player with his proven track record and supposedly diverse skill set, but he has been a liability for Phoenix this season.
Richards is a role player who’ll give the Suns hard-nosed rebounding and rim protection, which is what they might need instead of working Nurkic in on offense. The team has three of the best offensive players of the last 10 years, so building the roster with defense-heavy options would be the ideal way forward.
Nurkic filled a playmaking hole on the team last season but with Devin Booker’s improvement as a passer and the addition of Tyus Jones in the summer, the Bosnian center has become a redundant offensive option for the Suns. At least Richards will provide vertical spacing as a long threat and a more aggressive rebounder this season.
Richards’ starting spot has already gone with Mark Williams’ return, so it might be ideal for him to be moved to a big market contender where he’ll have a starting opportunity after spending the last five seasons as a backup in Charlotte.
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