Yeah, but in namesake only. People who watched him here in Portland only have respect for him... and it sounds like people in Denver just wanted Nurk gone since they had Jokic. Now, the 1st round pick might be sad it's attached to this trade.
Now if we can get player 1 to stop trying to force and manufacture shots and pass the ball to player 3, we have a shot at being decent in a year or so.
So the same thing most of us fans thought as well? Most rational fans would never have guessed he'd do what he's doing this year. Most had hopes for a nice journeyman center and the pick was the best part of this trade. Hell, Neil Olshey said as much.
I thought most fans (at least the ones on this forum) were incredulous that we got the pick in the first place, saying that Nurkic was already the better player, and that this deal would make us better both now and into the future.
Part of the reason Nurk looks so good is because he is solid at the fundamentals that we haven't seen from our bigs in so long. (and defense too). He is such a contrast to the lack of fundamentals and dismal effort we were seeing before he came. But lets not get too carried away just yet. Our team has Glaring issues with it's defense still. Philly just took us to overtime. Philly! I'm convinced with his two way play that Nurkic is the guy to build around going forward. Till we get better defense we have a Big Two. 1 + .5 + .5 = 2
You never have an GM that says: "We bent them over on that one. Someone is losing their job on this trade and the other is getting a contract extension. For the record, I plan on looking for a bigger house tomorrow." It was hilarious watching the GM summit on NBATV his summer. Ainge was saying with a straight face that the Brooklyn trade made sense for the Nets at the time.
Most fans on just about every forum anywhere knew this trade would help this team. Everyone was saying we needed a true center.
Again. Talking about Philly like they should not have been in that game is just wrong. That team plays hard and has some good players. Way better than their record would state. They simply made a couple bad decisions going down the stretch or they might win that game in Reg. Of course so did Aminu. Still cannot watch him on the offensive end.
Just to add on to this: Season after season after season, I watched this team struggle a little bit (or more) and then go into an easy schedule, fans licking their chops, and have their assess handed to them going 3-7 over a 10-game stretch. Apparently, there is a natural let down by the players - the "should beat" ideas don't really apply. For example, Even SA lost to the "on a 4 game losing streak" OKC last night.
yeah, and they are missing Embid and Simmons and have a shot at two top 5-6 picks this draft, bright future there if they don't F it up
One part I like in all this is that it gives us much more flexibility on our picks this summer. Before Nurk Fever, I would have thought we needed to really take a moon shot at trying to find that third person. We aren't completely there yet, but Nurk looks like he could be that third person, which allows for much greater flexibility on what we do with the picks.
I think w/o question BIG Nurk IS our guy! You're right, "we aren't completely there yet...," I love this; look @ what's happened (actual play, chemistry, fun factor for all, etc.) already. I can't wait for the increased cohesion between our guys & the damage they WILL do not only this yr. but ALSO next!
I think I have said this a few times.....things can change in a hurry in the NBA. Fans who try to project how teams will be 2-3 years from now are kidding themselves. You never know when an injury will occur or how adding one player can change the dynamic of a team. And those players don't have to come via a high priced FA's or a high draft pick. There are players all over the world now who can help. Late 1st round picks, 2nd round picks, undrafted FA's, trades for little used players........ Sometimes it takes smart GM's, (i.e trading for Kawai Leonard) while other times it takes a little luck. (i.e Draymond Green) There is no reason a team should be stuck in mediocrity just because they don't get a top draft pick. Management just needs to be smart. Neil needs to find one more piece.
CJ for Butler. It makes a lot of sense for both teams, and it would significantly improve our perimeter defense. Our biggest hole is power forward, but frankly there just aren't that many young talented fours out there right now.
Yeah but our biggest hole would still be PF even after that move. I don't think CJ is the issue for our poor perimeter defense. Once again it was our forwards that gave up the most three's last night. (Saric was 4-7, Covington 4-8) Are Harkless and Aminu that bad of perimeter defenders, or is it our defensive strategy? They sure as hell were not helping out on the guards last night. (their starters were 0-14 and are terrible) I am all for getting Butler, but great offensive players are not easy to find. I keep CJ.
