Oh, the Suns are not actively trading Jusuf Nurkic now?

But wait, I thought they were. Ohhh. Maybe they aren’t because there isn’t a market for him. Gotcha.

The Phoenix Suns are in deep, there is no denying that. 15-17. Gross. With the highest payroll in NBA history, you’d think they’d be winning games, right? Instead, they’re drowning in the same old problems, getting tangled in a web of expectations and underwhelming performances. So what’s the one thing that hasn’t been floated as a potential solution? Moving on from Jusuf Nurkic, their primary center.

The Bosnian Beast is finishing up the last leg of his three-game suspension after the infamous head-slap on Naji Marshall against the Dallas Mavericks last Friday. Despite the drama, Nurkic isn’t being actively traded, despite reports a week ago he was.

Is that a good thing? A bad thing? Well, it’s complicated.

Some folks want to throw him under the bus every time the Suns trip over their own feet. And sure, he’s a factor. But to label him as the primary reason for Phoenix’s struggles is an oversimplification. He’s certainly not living up to the hype, but to say he’s the root cause of all this mess? Not so fast.

Nurkic has his flaws. The guy’s got limitations, no doubt. The big fella’s athleticism is about as modern NBA as a flip phone, and that’s a problem when everyone else is sprinting up and down the court. But if you think the Suns are just itching to get rid of him, you’re sorely mistaken. They probably don’t want to move him because, well, they can’t.

Who wants Jusuf Nurkic? He’s a mid-level center playing like a mid-level center, and let’s be real, there’s no market for a lumbering 7-footer like him in today’s game. No contender is seeking out a slow, bruising big man to clog up their rotation during a playoff push. And with a hefty $19.4 million coming his way next season before that deal expires, any tanking team is probably going to pass on adding him to their cap situation. It’s a no-go on both ends.

So what does that mean? A classic Catch-22. He’s neither good enough to be a game-changer nor bad enough to be dumped off for a rebuild. Nurkic just “is.” And for better or worse, that means he’s sticking around because no one’s knocking on the door with an offer.

Let’s be clear, however. Nurkic does bring some value. He’s more productive than some might give him credit for. Take a look at the numbers, and you’ll see he’s not as useless as Twitter would lead you to believe. He’s ranked in the 99th percentile for defensive rebounds per 75 possessions and holds an A- grade for rim protection. His offensive rebounding talent? An A- minus. He’s not the flashy highlight-reel type, but he’s a solid contributor in those areas.

Sure, the dude can’t finish at the rim to save his life. He has a D- in finishing talent, F in rimshot-making efficiency, and a C in rim field goal percentage. But his passing creation quality gets an A-, his help defense is an A, and his perimeter isolation defense is in the 86th percentile, also earning him an A-.

Nurkic isn’t as bad as people love to make him out to be. Is he perfect? Hell no. But next time you’re watching a game, check out the other centers in the league. If it’s not Nikola Jokić, chances are, they’re just as out of place in the modern NBA as Nurkic. Everyone’s got their flaws. So maybe, just maybe, the Suns aren’t so eager to move him because, despite everything, there’s no one else out there who fits better.

But hey, if Phoenix’s brass is serious about fixing this mess, there are other players they could try to trade. Nurkic may not be the problem, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a bigger fish to fry.