After realizing he did not fit on the LA Clippers, veteran big man Mason Plumlee signed a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns. This was the best move for his career, as Phoenix had the pieces to compete for a championship. Additionally, Plumlee fell out of the rotation in a six-game playoff series with the Dallas Mavericks.
Prior to joining the Suns, Plumee was aware of his role under head coach Mike Budenholzer. He would come off the bench behind center Jusuf Nurkic to rebound, finish around the rim, and read the passing lanes for easy points. If a change occurred, the former Duke Wildcat would enter the starting lineup.
Conversely, Budenholzer adjusted his game-plan and shifted Nurkic to the bench, which meant Plumee would be the interim starting center.
This decision may have functioned for the time being, but the front office knew they had to add center depth at the trade deadline. There was no chance they were winning with limited mobility and athleticism in the starting rotation.
On January 15th, ESPN insider Shams Charania reported the Suns had traded Josh Okogie and three second-round picks to Charlotte for center Nick Richards and a second-round pick.
The Charlotte Hornets are trading 7-foot center Nick Richards and one second-round pick to the Phoenix Suns for Josh Okogie and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/RwPGJH5lzo
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 15, 2025
Although this was a great trade for the Suns, the implications could impact the Clippers at the deadline.
The LA Clippers could trade with the Phoenix Suns for Jusuf Nurkic at the deadline.
As the LA Clippers make center Mo Bamba available for trade, he could be included in a package with the Suns for Jusuf Nurkic. Additionally, executive Lawrence Frank will insert forward P.J. Tucker into the offer, as he will have leverage with the amount of big men on Phoenix’s roster.
Although this season has not been the best for Nurkic, he proved his abilities in 2023-24. The former first-round pick averaged 10.9 points and 11.0 rebounds in 76 games for former head coach Frank Vogel.
With former MVP James Harden, Nurkic would return to supremacy for the LA Clippers. All Lue will ask of him is to provide some sort of presence defensively, finish at the rim, and make the right decisions in the paint. These are not tough tasks, especially considering Nurkic will only play around 20 minutes per night.
If Nurkic disappoints, he could be traded during the summer. He would not pose a difficult challenge to move on from, as his contract expires at the end of next season.
That said, obtaining Nurkic answers the question at the backup center and opens a door for the Clippers to move Bamba and Tucker. He has also been in the league for over a decade, making his experience valuable in the postseason.