Predicting when every member of Suns' starting 5 might leave
By Tyler Watts
Jusuf Nurkic
The Suns targeted Nurkic in the Deandre Ayton swap. It was clear things were not going to work with the former number-one overall pick in Phoenix, so James Jones and the front office wisely moved on. Nurkic gave them some size and rim protection, but there should be some worries.
The 29-year-old averaged 10.9 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game. His playing time and production dipped in the playoffs, even in a matchup against the Timberwolves with two big men patrolling the frontcourt.
Nurkic played 76 games but averaged just 45.8 per season over the last five. The Suns desperately need a backup big man they can count on. Acquiring one this summer could be the beginning of the end for Jusuf Nurkic in the Valley of the Sun.
Nurkic gets traded at the 2025 deadline
The seven-footer deals with an injury in the first half of the 2024-25 season, which opens up more minutes for his backup. He fills in admirably and the questions about Nurkic in the playoffs lead the front office to trade him at the deadline. It forces Phoenix to be all-in again but increases their odds of a deep and necessary playoff run.