What would it take to get this guy? He's a future perennial stud. 21 years old. Has the best nickname in sports (Big Honey)
Seems like of Denver's two starting-caliber foreign-born centers, Nurkic is probably more obtainable. I think they see Jokic as their future. There's talk of the two playing together (with Jokic at the 4), but not likely IMO. I don't know what it would take to get him, but I'm leery of making deals with the Nuggets, considering we've been fleeced twice now.
He wouldn't be available. He arguably played as well as Towns last year (not to say he's as talented as Towns, as I'd rather have Towns for the future--but Jokic isn't far behind).
It will take a lot to get him, and I doubt we have the pieces. Lotta these Euro big men picked later in the draft are turning out pretty well. Jokic looks good, Nurkic as well. This year, Zubac for LA looks like he can play as well as that French Draymond dude for Boston. Who's our international scout? He doesn't seem very good.
He's signed through the 2017-18 season at an annual average salary of $1.36 M with a team option for the 2018-19 season. Now that is a highly favorable contract.
It's actually interesting, the only two players I think we've drafted for ourselves from the Euros have been Kostas (traded for TRob) and Dani Diez (still overseas). Neil doesn't seem to go the Euro route.
Nurkic could be available, but I'm not sure how much value he'd have to Portland. He's a very good defensive big who's weak on offense. The Blazers just signed Ezeli, a substantially similar player in that respect. I actually think Plumlee is a better player than Nurkic. To me, the Blazers (if they can't get an all-around stud, the type of player every team wants) most need a big man who can shoot as well as hold his own defensively.
Neil also doesn't like to draft younger guys, that may have something to do with it. Other than that maybe having to buyout certain euros from their clubs, it's really all just a big hassle.
MM - Jokic has proven he belongs. I don't think we could get him from Nuggets for anything less than Dame or CJ.
They won't give us Jokic unless we give them CJ so it's a no go. We don't need Nurkic when we have Ezeli. They'll build around Jokic and Mudiay. I wonder how Jamal Murray does too.
Some do, some don't. One statistical outlier doesn't negate the overall trend. Some also benefit from YEARS of playing professionally in Europe, with and against grown men, before joining the NBA. Jokic began playing professionally in Europe in 2012 and played full time on their senior league team staring in 2013. He may have been an NBA rookie, but he already had 3 years professional experience playing in Europe before coming to the NBA. The Nuggets were VERY lucky he was willing to accept a VERY small contract to come play in the NBA. He could be making much more right now if he would have chosen to stay in Europe. That's the problem with Euro stashes, the risk is twofold. One, that they will never develop into something special, and two, that if they do they will chose to stay in Europe where they can be closer to home and make more money (at least initially). BNM
