Hornets acquire replacement for Mark Williams, trade for Phoenix Suns’ Jusuf Nurkic

It didn’t take long for Jeff Peterson to find a new center.

Hours after agreeing to send Mark Williams to the Los Angeles Lakers for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish and draft pick compensation, the Charlotte Hornets president of basketball operations acquired Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first-round pick from Phoenix for Cody Martin and Vasa Micić and a 2026 second-round pick, league sources confirmed to The Observer.

Nurkic fell out of favor in Phoenix in January, leading to the Suns’ pursuit of Nick Richards. Nurkic was dropped from Phoenix’s starting lineup on Jan. 6 in part because of defensive issues and an inability to consistently finish effectively.

Those struggles catapulted former Hornet Mason Plumlee into the starting lineup, Charlotte sent Richards to Phoenix in exchange for Josh Okogie and a pair of second-round picks.

Martin, following two injury-plagued seasons, averaged 7.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 39 games, regaining some of the form that led to the Hornets signing him to a four-year, $32 million pact in 2022. He’s missed the last seven games, initially sitting out with a groin issue before a sports hernia sidelined him.

Micić came to the Hornets at the deadline a year ago from Oklahoma City along with Tre Mann in the deal for Gordon Hayward. The 31-year-old Serbian filled in at backup point guard while LaMelo Ball and Mann battled injuries, but those duties will go to rookie KJ Simpson now.