7 Suns who definitely won't be back next season
By Luke Duffy
3. Jusuf Nurkic
The Suns need to make some drastic changes as a result of getting swept, and Jusuf Nurkic figures to be the odd man out to make that happen. As already mentioned, the Suns' "Big 3" either can't or aren't going anywhere. Perhaps Durant could get traded, but that seems like a massive move at this moment in time.
Nurkic however will be entering the final year of his current contract next season, and would be viewed around the league as an expiring deal that could still provide some valuable minutes on the court too. Nurkic did a great job of rehabbing his value in his first season in The Valley, but the playoffs again exposed his limitations.
He is selfless, is a nice fit in most offensive systems and can give you 11/11 a night during the regular season. There is a place for that in the league, as long as whoever takes Nurkic on is aware that come the playoffs, he is going to sit more often than he is going to play. The Suns couldn't afford for that to happen because of their lack of depth, and they quickly paid the price.
The Suns also have absolutely no assets this offseason to work with, and so trading Nurkic is about the biggest move they can make right now. They aren't going to get much back for him - but a combination of another expiring deal that could help more in the playoffs plus a pick of some kind - with be a good starting point.