Sources: Suns trading Nurkic to Hornets for Martin

The Phoenix Suns are trading Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic and a 2026 second-round pick, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

The 7-foot Nurkic hasn't played for the Suns since Jan. 7. He started 23 games this season before being moved to the bench in early January.

He told reporters last month that he and coach Mike Budenholzer "don't have a relationship."

"It's hard to understand why," Nurkic said last month about Budenholzer moving him to the bench. "As you know, I try to do whatever they want from me. I play my role or whatever, but at the end of the day, it's the NBA."

Nurkic is averaging 8.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. He was acquired by Phoenix from the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team trade before the 2023-24 season, starting 76 games that year and averaging 10.9 points and 11.0 rebounds.

Next year is the final season of the four-year, $70 million deal the 30-year-old signed with Portland. Nurkic is making $18.1 million this season.

Martin, 29, had spent all six of his years in the league with Charlotte after they drafted him with the No. 36 overall pick in 2019 and was one of the few constants for a Hornets roster that has seen continual change in recent years.

Martin profiles as a strong point-of-attack defender as a 6-foot-6 wing, routinely taking on the opposing team's best scorer. Martin has struggled as a shooter, however, averaging 31.9% on 3s for his career.

Martin signed a four-year deal with Charlotte in 2022; he has one year and around $8.6 million left on the deal after this season.

Micic, a Euroleague star who came over to the NBA two years ago, is in the final guaranteed year of his deal. He has an $8 million team option for next season.