You be the GM: Nurkic extension this summer?

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PtldPlatypus

PtldPlatypus

Let's go Baby Blazers!
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Jusuf Nurkic has played 20 games as a Blazer. His impact has been immediate, immense, and inarguable. The future with a Dame/CJ/Nurkic big three looks as bright as anything we've seen since the Oden draft.

Our cap situation, however, is...unpleasant. Crabbe, Turner, and Leonard are all significantly overpaid for the next 3 years. Dame and CJ are being paid (essentially) max money for the next 4. Barring significant salary shedding moves, we're easily well into the luxury tax for the foreseeable future.

And of course, Nurkic's health has concerns. He tore his patellar tendon in 2015, missing the remainder of that season and the start of the next. He's currently nursing a fractured fibula. And he plays at 280, arguably in a physical condition that contributes to reducing his stamina, as well as potentially putting excessive pressure on his lower extremities.

All things considered, if you're the Blazers' GM, what are your thoughts on offering Nurkic an extension this summer? You know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if he reaches RFA healthy, he's a max player. Do you risk the potential for injury and try to lock him up a year early for a lesser amount? If so, what do you offer that won't be insulting? Do you think Nurkic (and his agent) will be willing to accept a discounted guarantee to avoid the health gamble? Does the expectation of being a taxpayer, and soon a repeater, impact what you'd be willing to offer? Or are you better off just riding out the next season and taking your chances with RFA?

You be the GM: What do you do with Nurkic this summer?
 
PtldPlatypus said:
Jusuf Nurkic has played 20 games as a Blazer. His impact has been immediate, immense, and inarguable. The future with a Dame/CJ/Nurkic big three looks as bright as anything we've seen since the Oden draft.

Our cap situation, however, is...unpleasant. Crabbe, Turner, and Leonard are all significantly overpaid for the next 3 years. Dame and CJ are being paid (essentially) max money for the next 4. Barring significant salary shedding moves, we're easily well into the luxury tax for the foreseeable future.

And of course, Nurkic's health has concerns. He tore his patellar tendon in 2015, missing the remainder of that season and the start of the next. He's currently nursing a fractured fibula. And he plays at 280, arguably in a physical condition that contributes to reducing his stamina, as well as potentially putting excessive pressure on his lower extremities.

All things considered, if you're the Blazers' GM, what are your thoughts on offering Nurkic an extension this summer? You know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if he reaches RFA healthy, he's a max player. Do you risk the potential for injury and try to lock him up a year early for a lesser amount? If so, what do you offer that won't be insulting? Do you think Nurkic (and his agent) will be willing to accept a discounted guarantee to avoid the health gamble? Does the expectation of being a taxpayer, and soon a repeater, impact what you'd be willing to offer? Or are you better off just riding out the next season and taking your chances with RFA?

You be the GM: What do you do with Nurkic this summer?
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Blazers don't have much of a bargaining position. Nurkic is going to be a max player. If Olshey tries to offer anything less all Nurk's agent has to do is hold up a picture of Meyers and start giggling.
 
Extend him. Ask him to take a small discount for the benefit of the team (point to Duncan), but don't make it a sticking point. Nurkic is to team production as Lillard is to team leadership. Nurk = MVP on the court. Lillard = MVP off the court.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
Blazers don't have much of a bargaining position. Nurkic is going to be a max player. If Olshey tries to offer anything less all Nurk's agent has to do is hold up a picture of Meyers and start giggling.
Click to expand...
The only basis for the Blazers' position is also the reason any extension would be a risk to them--the potential for another injury. If Nurk gets hurt again next year, he won't be a max guy. From his position, there's an argument to be made for locking in the guaranteed deal now rather than waiting until next summer.
 
PtldPlatypus said:
The only basis for the Blazers' position is also the reason any extension would be a risk to them--the potential for another injury. If Nurk gets hurt again next year, he won't be a max guy. From his position, there's an argument to be made for locking in the guaranteed deal now rather than waiting until next summer.
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So what are we talking here, maybe a $1 million less?

Remember Nurkic's resume now includes a best record in the NBA for the month of March, a Player of the Month for Lillard and a Coach of the Month for Stotts.
 
blue9 said:
Extend him. Ask him to take a small discount for the benefit of the team (point to Duncan), but don't make it a sticking point. Nurkic is to team production as Lillard is to team leadership. Nurk = MVP on the court. Lillard = MVP off the court.
Click to expand...

Did Duncan ever take less when he was in his prime?
 
I think they have to find a way to extend him. If the team is poised to go deep in the playoffs with him next year, then paying the LT isn't out of the question for two of those 3 years our players are on so-called "bad" contracts.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
So what are we talking here, maybe a $1 million less?

Remember Nurkic's resume now includes a best record in the NBA for the month of March, a Player of the Month for Lillard and a Coach of the Month for Stotts.
Click to expand...
If that were all the difference was, then it wouldn't be worth offering, IMO. Then again, that's part of the question: If you're the GM, how much of a discount off a max extension would Nurkic have to be willing to accept for it to be worth the risk of locking him up a year early?
 
PtldPlatypus said:
The only basis for the Blazers' position is also the reason any extension would be a risk to them--the potential for another injury. If Nurk gets hurt again next year, he won't be a max guy. From his position, there's an argument to be made for locking in the guaranteed deal now rather than waiting until next summer.
Click to expand...

Yes if we can save a substantial amount then do it now. If the difference is not significant then wait to see if he can stay healthy.
His injury while not that serious is still a reminder why we need 3 centers on the team. All that weight on their feet and ankles and knees.......takes a toll. Centers seem to get hurt more than the other positions. It makes it hard to rely on them come playoff time.
 
PtldPlatypus said:
If that were all the difference was, then it wouldn't be worth offering, IMO. Then again, that's part of the question: If you're the GM, how much of a discount off a max extension would Nurkic have to be willing to accept for it to be worth the risk of locking him up a year early?
Click to expand...

I would offer him max this off season if he promises not to play in the different yearly Europe bball stuff.
 
The absolute rarity of this chance to sign a young center as gifted as Nurkic, who wants to be here, has demonstrated how well he fits with our other two star players and how much he improves the team's play, IMO, make this a must-do this summer. Sure, he's had a couple of injuries, but this current one is more in the boo-boo category than anything significant. He fits the window of the Lillard-McCollum era like a glove. I'd sign him and then start unloading excess contracts as fast as possible.
 
If his health is ok, go for it. But I do like the idea of dangling the carrot for him for a year.
 
What exactly is the benefit to extending him? He isn't clamoring for an extension and while I love Nurkic and believe he is a a true answer at the C position, it's pretty laughable that everyone complains every day about other contracts on our roster and being in the LT potentially but wants to then sign a player who has only really played at a max level for 20 games another max contract.

I love Nurkic, hope he retires a Blazer and think he can be an All-Star. But there is absolutely 0 reason to give him an extension. He will be an RFA and we will match any offer. We aren't losing him.
 
Blazer Freak said:
What exactly is the benefit to extending him? He isn't clamoring for an extension and while I love Nurkic and believe he is a a true answer at the C position, it's pretty laughable that everyone complains every day about other contracts on our roster and being in the LT potentially but wants to then sign a player who has only really played at a max level for 20 games another max contract.

I love Nurkic, hope he retires a Blazer and think he can be an All-Star. But there is absolutely 0 reason to give him an extension. He will be an RFA and we will match any offer. We aren't losing him.
Click to expand...
This pretty much sums it up for me
 
SlyPokerDog said:
In 10 years when Nurkic is negotiating his 3rd 5 year contract with the Blazers then we can ask him to leave a little on the table.
Click to expand...
Then we're gonna have to ask Dame to give us a discount on his next contract. And I actually think, if anyone is going to, Dame would be the one to do it - lead by example, and hope that CJ/Nurkic follow his lead.
 
Blazer Freak said:
What exactly is the benefit to extending him? He isn't clamoring for an extension and while I love Nurkic and believe he is a a true answer at the C position, it's pretty laughable that everyone complains every day about other contracts on our roster and being in the LT potentially but wants to then sign a player who has only really played at a max level for 20 games another max contract.

I love Nurkic, hope he retires a Blazer and think he can be an All-Star. But there is absolutely 0 reason to give him an extension. He will be an RFA and we will match any offer. We aren't losing him.
Click to expand...
If we have to match an RFA offer sheet, that could include certain things we might want to avoid, like the trade kicker currently on Crabbe's contract. Locking in an extension this summer can prevent unforeseen undesirable contract elements. And of course, if we could get him to extend for less than the max, that would save some cash.
 
Blazer Freak said:
What exactly is the benefit to extending him? He isn't clamoring for an extension and while I love Nurkic and believe he is a a true answer at the C position, it's pretty laughable that everyone complains every day about other contracts on our roster and being in the LT potentially but wants to then sign a player who has only really played at a max level for 20 games another max contract.

I love Nurkic, hope he retires a Blazer and think he can be an All-Star. But there is absolutely 0 reason to give him an extension. He will be an RFA and we will match any offer. We aren't losing him.
Click to expand...

Two major benefits:

1. You let Nurkic know that you value him in the same way you value Dame and CJ, whom you gave extended contracts.

2. You avoid the whole RFA circus and get to write the contract in a favorable manner, not having to match a junk contract written by another GM with a bunch of provisions intended to make you pass or suffer pain.
 
There is a difference between a player that willingly signs an extension and one that is whiling to leave his team and go to the highest bidder, and than being forced to stay on the team because they matched his RFA offer.

The players that sign an extension are making a commitment to the team.
Dame signed an extension.
CJ signed an extension

While not necessary, it would be a very nice gesture on Nurkics part if he continued in this tradition, and signed an extension, making a commitment to the team.
 
e_blazer said:
Two major benefits:

1. You let Nurkic know that you value him in the same way you value Dame and CJ, whom you gave extended contracts.

2. You avoid the whole RFA circus and get to write the contract in a favorable manner, not having to match a junk contract written by another GM with a bunch of provisions intended to make you pass or suffer pain.
Click to expand...

Both of these are most useful as gestures if you know some asshole GM will try to max him out, forcing our hand. I think this might be possible but I leave that to NO and PA to decide.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
I would offer him max this off season if he promises not to play in the different yearly Europe bball stuff.
Click to expand...

No worries about that, Bosnia is not playing this year and the next Eurobasket is 4 years away. And I don't see them playing any World Cup or Olympics.



Personally I think we should try something less than the max, even Giannis did not get the max to help his team. It's not insulting for a player with a track of 20 good games.
If he doesn't accept around 90M/4 years, then just let it be and we match what he gets next year. This way we will 100% sure where he stands healthwise.
 
riverman said:
This pretty much sums it up for me
Click to expand...
agree, and frankly there is going to be a good bit less money overall available for FA's this summer even with the modest cap rise and the following summer is expecting a flat cap - so why hurry and let him prove himself over a full season.
 
And in any case with all these bad contracts that have been offered last summer and maybe will be offered this summer too I don't see many teams having the cap to offer a max deal next summer and even if they do I suppose Nurkic won't be top priority for them. And the projections for salary cap don't show big increases from next year and on.
 
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