According the ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Charlotte Hornets are trading Jusuf Nurkic to the Utah Jazz for Collin Sexton and a 2030 second round pick.
Just in: The Utah Jazz are trading Collin Sexton and a 2030 second-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Jusuf Nurkic, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/k5hFMBSlYn
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2025
I don’t know what specific pick the Hornets are getting in 2030, but it’s 2030 and it’s probably going to get traded at least a couple more times before we actually get to that draft.
Nurkic was probably better than most expected for the Hornets last year after he got written off as washed in Phoenix. In 26 games, he averaged 9.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, and the Hornets were better with him on the floor than with him off. With him gone, the Hornets are left with Moussa Diabate and second round pick Ryan Kalkbrenner as the only centers on the roster. I assume they’ll address depth at the position at some point in free agency, plus Grant Williams will be back at some point to take some minutes there as needed.
Coming in is guard Collin Sexton. He’s spent the last three years in Utah after starting his career in Cleveland. Despite his seven years of experience, he’s still only 26 years old. He was a primary scorer for parts of his time in Cleveland but has settled in as more of a complementary scorer in Utah with Lauri Markkanen.
At 6’3″, Sexton is much more a combo guard than a pure point. He’s always been a score first player, but he does do a tremendous job of putting the ball in the basket efficiently. His worst true shooting percentage season in Utah was 59.7%, which is still very good for a guard. Unfortunately, he’s not so good on defense, so the Hornets will have to figure out how to make that work.
Still, Sexton gives the Hornets more guard depth and scoring punch. The front office has added a lot of shooting and offensive firepower. There are multiple options to start in the back court alongside LaMelo Ball, which is a nice problem to have.
Sexton’s contract is almost identical to Nurkic’s this season, so this has no ramifications on the salary cap going forward. I’m kind of surprised the Hornets were the ones to receive the extra pick in the deal since it’d be pretty easy to argue that Sexton is the better player, but good job Jeff Peterson.