In a shocking deal before the 2025 NBA summer, the Utah Jazz traded guard Collin Sexton and a second-round pick for the year 2030 to the Charlotte Hornets for center Jusuf Nurkic, as per ESPN's Shams Charania. This deal, between two veterans whose contracts were up to expire, redefines both rosters and the strategic direction of both teams as they approach next season. Breaking down the major points on this trade, player statistics and the probable influence on both clubs, with emphasis on direction of the Jazz after the selection of Ace Bailey in the 2025 NBA Draft.

 

Collin Sexton Stats

Collin Sexton, a prolific scoring point guard, has been a reliable scoring threat since his arrival in the NBA in 2018. His career stats are shown below, focusing on his work over the last seven years:

Season

Team

Pos

G

GS

MP

FG

FGA

FG%

3P

3PA

3P%

FT%

TRB

AST

STL

BLK

PTS

2018-19CLE

PG

82

72

31.8

6.3

14.7

0.43

1.5

3.6

0.402

0.839

2.9

3

0.5

0.1

16.7

2019-20CLE

PG

65

65

33

7.9

16.7

0.472

1.5

3.9

0.38

0.846

3.1

3

1

0.1

20.8

2020-21CLE

SG

60

60

35.3

8.8

18.4

0.475

1.6

4.4

0.371

0.815

3.1

4.4

1

0.2

24.3

2021-22CLE

SG

11

11

28.7

6.2

13.7

0.45

1

4.1

0.244

0.744

3.3

2.1

0.9

0

16

2022-23UTA

PG

48

15

23.9

4.9

9.8

0.506

1

2.5

0.393

0.819

2.2

2.9

0.6

0.1

14.3

2023-24UTA

SG

78

51

26.6

6.5

13.3

0.487

1.6

4.2

0.394

0.859

2.6

4.9

0.8

0.2

18.7

2024-25UTA

SG

63

61

27.9

6.6

13.8

0.48

1.7

4.3

0.406

0.865

2.7

4.2

0.7

0.1

18.4

Sexton, who is also referred to as the "Young Bull," has been a consistent scorer, and at 18.4 points per game for the 2024-25 season on an extremely efficient .480/.406/.865 field shooting clip. His capacity to score at all levels and pass the ball make him an asset in the Hornets' backcourt, especially as a set man for LaMelo Ball.

 

Jusuf Nurkic Stats

Jusuf Nurkic, a skilled big man, brings size and playmaking to the Jazz’s frontcourt. Below are key highlights of his career stats:

Season

Team

Pos

G

GS

MP

FG

FGA

FG%

3P

3PA

3P%

FT%

TRB

AST

STL

BLK

PTS

2014-15DEN

C

62

27

17.8

2.8

6.2

0.446

0

0

0

0.636

6.2

0.8

0.8

1.1

6.9

2015-16DEN

C

32

3

17.1

3.2

7.6

0.417

0

0.1

0

0.616

5.5

1.3

0.8

1.4

8.2

2016-172TM

C

65

48

21.4

4.2

8.2

0.507

0

0

0

0.571

7.2

1.9

0.8

1.1

10.2

2016-17DEN

C

45

29

17.9

3.4

6.6

0.507

0

0


 

0.496

5.8

1.3

0.6

0.8

8

2016-17POR

C

20

19

29.2

6

11.8

0.508

0

0.1

0

0.66

10.4

3.2

1.3

1.9

15.2

2017-18POR

C

79

79

26.4

6.1

12

0.505

0

0.1

0

0.63

9

1.8

0.8

1.4

14.3

2018-19POR

C

72

72

27.4

5.8

11.5

0.508

0

0.4

0.103

0.773

10.4

3.2

1

1.4

15.6

2019-20POR

C

8

8

31.6

6.8

13.6

0.495

0.3

1.3

0.2

0.886

10.3

4

1.4

2

17.6

2020-21POR

C

37

37

23.8

4.6

9

0.514

0.3

0.8

0.4

0.619

9

3.4

1

1.1

11.5

2021-22POR

C

56

56

28.2

5.7

10.7

0.535

0.3

1

0.268

0.69

11.1

2.8

1.1

0.6

15

2022-23POR

C

52

52

26.8

5

9.7

0.519

0.8

2.3

0.361

0.661

9.1

2.9

0.8

0.8

13.3

2023-24PHO

C

76

76

27.3

4.2

8.3

0.51

0.3

1.2

0.244

0.64

11

4

1.1

1.1

10.9

2024-252TM

C

51

32

20.8

3.3

6.9

0.477

0.6

2.1

0.305

0.664

7.8

2.3

0.8

0.7

8.9

2024-25PHO

C

25

23

23.7

3

6.5

0.454

0.8

2.4

0.322

0.696

9.2

1.9

0.9

0.6

8.6

2024-25CHO

C

26

9

18.1

3.6

7.3

0.497

0.5

1.8

0.283

0.627

6.5

2.6

0.7

0.7

9.2

Nurkic, a 7-foot body, provides athleticism in his passing out of the high post and paint congestion. In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 8.9 points and 7.8 rebounds on two teams, with a slight increase in scoring (9.2 PPG) since coming to the Hornets.

 

Hornets Trade Impact

Charlotte Hornets get a big lift in the backcourt with Collin Sexton. With LaMelo Ball as the backstop, the Hornets have been looking for an effective veteran guard to play off his playmaker. Sexton, who is 26 years old, is a blue-collar, effective shooter with passing and off-the-dribble scoring skills. His 2024-25 .480/.406/.865 shooting rates indicate that he can also score, and his 4.2 assists per game indicate better playmaking. Sexton's aggressiveness and competitiveness will complement Charlotte's strategic young core, who have the likes of Brandon Miller.

The trade is also accompanied by a 2030 second-rounder to further increase the draft capital of Charlotte as they continue to build for the future. That aside, losing Nurkic leaves them with a hole in the frontcourt after the previous trade of Mark Williams and Nick Richards this season. The Hornets' center rotation now relies on less established names, something that could be an issue unless some other changes are made.

 

Jazz Trade Impact

The Utah Jazz, in Jusuf Nurkic signing, answer a frontcourt depth concern behind upstart sensation Walker Kessler, along with responding to their recent 2025 NBA Draft pick of Ace Bailey. Nurkic, the coveted player Utah has desired for some time, adds veteran poise and versatility. His capacity to pass out of the high post (2.3 assists per game in 2024-25) and rebounding support (7.8 rebounds per game) complements Utah's frontcourt of Lauri Markkanen and Kessler. His 30.5% three-point shooting in this season has a modest space-game element that makes it feasible for the Jazz to work on lineups with mixed size and flexibility.

The addition of Ace Bailey, a high-ceiling wing with top-level scoring upside and athleticism, is a declaration of intent by Utah to build around a dynamic young core. Bailey's arrival probably wasn't unrelated to the departure of Sexton, who must be cleared of backcourt minutes to facilitate backcourt playing time for their prized rookie and other young backcourts in Keyonte George. Shooter Sexton, a more successful of their shooters (18.4 PPG on .480/.406/.865 shooting in 2024-25), is a risk that foregoes short-term production for long-term growth. The Jazz have been trading with older vets such as Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, and John Collins, suggesting wanting to stockpile assets and set opportunity up for their young core, with Bailey as the centerpiece.

The 2030 second-round pick to Charlotte is an extra asset, but some feel the Jazz discounted Sexton, especially given his market value as a young scoring guard. The addition of Nurkic to Utah's frontcourt brings depth, but his expiring contract and recent performance (8.9 PPG, 7.8 RPG) suggest that he's a stopgap solution, not a long-term solution. The trade fits with Utah's plan to hold up Bailey's development, keep draft picks in play, and construct a roster in line with their young core's timeline, hopefully for a top draft pick in 2026.

The trade is mixed priorities for Jazz and Hornets. Charlotte acquires an athletic defender in Sexton to complement their backcourt and protect LaMelo Ball, and Utah gets frontcourt athleticism in Nurkic to replace the lost part with their current bigs and make space for developing Ace Bailey. Both sides are trying to find the equilibrium between short-term competitiveness and long-term rebuild, and this exchange of expiring contracts leaves room for future transactions. As the 2025-26 season nears, the success of the trade will ride on Sexton fitting well into Charlotte's foundation and whether Nurkic will be the anchor Utah needs and Bailey becomes one in their future.

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