Assuming that Dame goes out, what is the order of players the Blazers should be looking to move away from in your opinion? IMHO, Nurk is the #1 player the Blazers should be looking to move away from. He has a long contract of a sizeable amount where he does not fit with the team's philosophy (and have not since the coaching change). That, to me, is "has to go too". Ant is problematic to keep as a starter if the future really is Sharpe / Scoot, but the Blazers at least have to look at it and see if it pans out and even if it does, Ant is a great 6th man / backup PG / SG combo to have, so he is nowhere near as high on the "has to go" list. Grant plays a position of need - and can be fit in any modern NBA system unless he is required to play the center position. So, he is lower in the "has to go" list, imho. Thybulle is not a player the Blazers need to move from imho, he currently offers a true perimeter defender and can play as a starter for a rebuilding team or a backup if Rupert really proves to be a modern Batum for the team in the future. Nurkic does not fit. Simple as that. That's what I take from "has to go too". The team has changed it's goals once Dame asked out. This means contending is out of the question in the near future, slowing down Jokic / Embiid is of no consequence, and since young bigs take time to develop, it would be stupid not to try and find one and give him as long a runway as possible to do it.
Nurk would make a fine addition to a contending bench. He is not a starter on a top tier team imho. But he is a very good passer and shot blacker on a not too bad contract
Lets say you get you way and Nurk is "to go too", then who plays center? Jabari Walker is the only player over 6'8". I don't want a young 2nd year player having to deal with that physicality when he should be developing as a forward. Only other options are two guys on two ways - I saw both in person in Vegas and they are not ready for regular NBA minutes. Badji I'm not sure is even ready for the G League. Butler is skinny as hell and might even get most his minutes at PF - he usually played alongside a center in summer league. The Blazers at least have plenty of options at Thybulle and Grant's position. I just don't see any problem at all keeping Nurk. If we get positive value for him then fine I'd consider it. Its weird so many fans criticize the lack of height on this team then go around trying to get rid of the only big, who is injured often and probably only plays 20-25 minutes when healthy.
Well if it becomes a major problem deal with it then. I have a completely different expectation, I don't believe Nurk will have any issue here if the team is losing. He loves to pass, set screens, and puts in effort on defense. He loves Dame and is tight with him but I expect if Nurk stays he will become close to Scoot and the others that are here. We don't need a solution to a non-existent problem.
Ant I'm a huge fan of and definitely want to see how next season plays out. I might want to keep all three even if Scoot/Sharpe become stars. But theres a very real chance one of Scoot/Sharpe are busts so just as a due diligence having Ant is a great additional option. Thybulle seems to be a good locker room guy. Grant is on a massive contract so I'd be looking to get out of that ASAP. A lot of risk it could become a boat anchor to this franchise for 5 years if he declines. Hopefully Dallas or a desperate team will give up a pick at the deadline. I think its important to have a mix of veterans along with our youth. I don't want only young guys on the roster as that slows their development. However with the team being nowhere close to contending I'd like to see them actively explore deals for all of these players including Nurk. We desperately need to build up our long term assets. If we can get assets back for one of these guys then maybe the team should pull the trigger, and add any other needed or lower salary vets to replace any leadership void that is needed. I wouldn't get rid of any of these players just to do "addition by subtraction" including Nurk or Grant. They will all be fine playing or even starting next season. We are so far from having an overcrowded roster with lack of players deserving minutes that trying to get rid of one of the few rotational players we have is beyond ludicrious.
Just a quick followup from more Insta browsing. Almost certain Nurk is getting hitched this weekend in Dubrovnik, Croatia. A buncha blazers staffers are going. As is Cronin. As is Dame. Interesting.
There's no need for Nurk. He's a bad contract who would only be holding back players we'd like to develop at the same position. Chauncey wants to play differently.
I cannot like or upvote this thought enough. Enough of the iso offense. The only thing it does is inflates numbers for one person that you eventually have to throw a ton of money to keep.
Nurks been pretty good for ball movement. I think ultimately Scoot and Ant passing earlier will do more for ball movement and also yes hopefully less iso. I'm good with playing faster. I'll believe it when I see it though, I've been hearing that every off-season since we had Mike Barret announcing and Juan Dixon starting. It's a bit crazy to think that since that time it's been basically Roy then Dame dominating our whole offense all the years since.
Nurk getting his picture on the season ticket poster tells me he's a Blazer...I think it was Ant Nurk Jerami and Shaedon
Nurk doesn't look good with players who walk the ball up the court and don't move or pass. Nurk looks good, sometimes very good, with players who push the pace, move around, and pass the ball. It seems many people want a center who can catch lobs and block shots and not much else. For me that's a wash if we give up what Nurkic can do in the right environment.
The first step to a fast break is rebounding the ball. That's something Nurkic does well. Nurkic is also good at throwing outlet passes. I'm sure he would love doing that compared to handing the ball to Dame or Simons.
We certainly don't have anyone now. It's a theoretical. But if we got a Wiseman, or Duren, or X, we would.
I think Nurk is going to love playing with Scoot, and Scoot will make it a point of emphasis to get Nurk involved. I'm looking forward to the pick and roll game, and I'd love to see Nurk directing traffic a la Walton and Sabas. We got cutters. We got shooters. My fingers are crossed the Blazers will bring a little joy back to RIP City.
