Shams CHA/PHX Part 2: Nurkic, worst of 2026 1sts for Martin, Micic, 2026 2nd

[HornetJail]

https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3lhjpj4nylz2h

[hugepatsfan]

Makes sense. Phoenix saves some money, shuffles depth for a guy they're not playing. CHA gets someone who they can play some minutes now with Williams gone and a pick for their troubles.

[Godaddycurse]

surprised its 2026 1s ttraded. now they can only trade 1 more 1st instead of 2

[R-DAWG]

Interesting from PHX perspective here. Pure salary dump.

Figured Nurkic's expiring plus draft capital could have landed a better rotation piece over the summer.

Anyway, 29 other teams remain jealous of the Pheonix Suns

[HornetJail]

well it looks like the 1st is the worst out of Phoenix, Washington, Memphis, Orlando. Probably nothing special but it's a pick upgrade to eat the contract of a player we (unfortunately) probably could use since we just punted our starting center for picks 6 years from now

Martin is significantly worse than Okogie, who was a salary dump in the Richards trade), and Micic was likely one of the 10 worst rotation players in the entire league this season... so good riddance to both. They're both expiring (and have a TO for next year) which I'm sure is all that matters to PHX

[gswhoops]

Getting a first to eat one year of salary for a player Charlotte can actually use is pretty good work.

[moss_is_1]

Rough for Phoenix in terms of wanting to try and get better at all. But not bad in value. Save money and basically move back about 10-15 picks in the draft?

[HornetJail]

Rough for Phoenix in terms of wanting to try and get better at all. But not bad in value. Save money and basically move back about 10-15 picks in the draft?

it'll be more than 10-15 picks, we don't have our 2026 or 2027 2nds... we own Denver's and Golden State's 2026 2nds and presumably sending one of those....

thinking that'll wind up being the 47th pick for the 24th pick give or take a few slots

[moss_is_1]

Rough for Phoenix in terms of wanting to try and get better at all. But not bad in value. Save money and basically move back about 10-15 picks in the draft?

it'll be more than 10-15 picks, we don't have our 2026 or 2027 2nds... we own Denver's and Golden State's 2026 2nds and presumably sending one of those....

thinking that'll wind up being the 47th pick for the 24th pick give or take a few slots

Thanks. I guess Phoenix likes Martin a good amount? Still think they need another big but Portland might not be willing to move Williams so not sure what else is really there.

[HornetJail]

Rough for Phoenix in terms of wanting to try and get better at all. But not bad in value. Save money and basically move back about 10-15 picks in the draft?

it'll be more than 10-15 picks, we don't have our 2026 or 2027 2nds... we own Denver's and Golden State's 2026 2nds and presumably sending one of those....

thinking that'll wind up being the 47th pick for the 24th pick give or take a few slots

Thanks. I guess Phoenix likes Martin a good amount? Still think they need another big but Portland might not be willing to move Williams so not sure what else is really there.

i think it's all about the salaries. they dump 18 or 19 mil next season for the cost of basically a 20-25 pick, which is decent value in itself. Maybe Martin can masquerade as a worse Okogie and fill that void in their rotation? but i think anything you get out of our players is a bonus.

It's actually hilarious how much better Okogie was compared to our existing wing rotation

[Dr Positivity]

Seems like a good trade for Phoenix considering their salary situation.

[giberish]

Nurkic should be happy. No competition for starting center on Charlotte.

[jayjaysee]

Good trade for both sides.

Terrible for Phoenix to do that Utah trade without deals lined up to upgrade the roster.

But this is a win given Nurk’s play.

[Devilanche]

Good trade for both team . One save money the other get a first.

[MasterIchiro]

surprised its 2026 1s ttraded. now they can only trade 1 more 1st instead of 2

They can still field calls on draft night 2025, 2027 & 2029, select the player on behalf of the caller, and trade the draft rights to the player for upgrades. Matching is tougher but they don't have to suffer with rookies unless they really value the prospect like Dunn. Otherwise, they can still double-down on their win-now strategy.

[benultimate]

Team options on Martin & Micic could be helpful if the Suns want to keep one of them around for a salary slot for next year.

[MasterIchiro]

Team options on Martin & Micic could be helpful if the Suns want to keep one of them around for a salary slot for next year.

That would be Martin. The rumor after the Richards trade was the Suns coveted Martin. Their opening offer was Nurkic for Martin & Richards, but at the time they didn't have 3 1sts. They only had their 2031 1st. Hornets balked. Took Okogie for Richards. Revisited and added Micić and got the 1st attached to Nurkic.

[Pattycakes]

Interesting from PHX perspective here. Pure salary dump.

Figured Nurkic's expiring plus draft capital could have landed a better rotation piece over the summer.

Anyway, 29 other teams remain jealous of the Pheonix Suns

Idk these Pheonix Suns but I’m definitely more jealous of them than the Phoenix team, by far

[jayjaysee]

Team options on Martin & Micic could be helpful if the Suns want to keep one of them around for a salary slot for next year.

That would be Martin. The rumor after the Richards trade was the Suns coveted Martin. Their opening offer was Nurkic for Martin & Richards, but at the time they didn't have 3 1sts. They only had their 2031 1st. Hornets balked. Took Okogie for Richards. Revisited and added Micić and got the 1st attached to Nurkic.

Think you should rephrase this if it matters?

If Hornets balked at the 2031 first, fans should be very upset. That’s an insane asset to turn down for a salary dump..

But if Phoenix wasn’t willing to pay that valuable an asset (obviously) and CLT was able to circle back and get good value? CLT won two trades as everyone feels they did.. CLT fans should be happy

[HornetJail]

Team options on Martin & Micic could be helpful if the Suns want to keep one of them around for a salary slot for next year.

That would be Martin. The rumor after the Richards trade was the Suns coveted Martin. Their opening offer was Nurkic for Martin & Richards, but at the time they didn't have 3 1sts. They only had their 2031 1st. Hornets balked. Took Okogie for Richards. Revisited and added Micić and got the 1st attached to Nurkic.

Think you should m rephrase this.

If Hornets balked at the 2031 first, fans should be very upset.

But if Phoenix wasn’t willing to pay that valuable an asset obviously, and CLT was able to circle back and get good value? CLT won two trades as everyone feels they did?

it's much more likely the Suns didn't want to unload their only asset to dump Nurkic, and splitting one pick into three lower value picks was the move that allowed them to make the move.