Jusuf Nurkic Injury (Updates might be included)

The more likely scenario is that he just isn’t healthy. Even Zach is working out before the games, Nurk isn’t even doing that.

 

My guess is that Nurk really was on track to return before or right after the all star break. But the calf strain that the Blazers downplayed or tried not to mention is actually a significant setback. Especially considering what happened to Rodney Hood, they are probably playing it super safe at this point.

 

Yeah, I agree, my point was since they don't even control their own G-League team they aren't going to entrust his care to another organization.

 

Yeah. It's all speculation at this point but I've given up hope that Nurks coming back this year...

 

Future HOFer Tony Parker was sent to the GL to practice and have a training camp in Austin while rehabbing.

Such a wasted opportunity that we don't have an affiliate squad. Some of the stuff this franchise does is just baffling.

 

with the Hood situation, the medical/training staff got plenty of heat for clearing a player who had been having Achilles pain. There were legitimate questions about that clearance. Maybe the staff was blameless, but the Achilles is something that should never be risked, and it sure looks like that happened with Hood

so then Nurkic has his first 5-on-5 practice and is injured. That was more than a month ago, so that sure seems to indicate it was not the lowest grade calf strain but something more severe. So again, there are questions about the staff. That would tend to explain the complete blackout of updates of Nurkic's situation. Sure appears to be a lot of ass-covering going on behind the scenes. Did Nurkic practice too early because of some artificial timeline (the all star break)?

even if Nurkic does make it back this year, he'll very likely have time limits and look like a shell of himself.

 

I hate to say it but this is just another example of the Blazers not wanting to spend money. Quite a drastic turn from last season and this summer. It can't just be injuries can it?

@BonesJones Not having a G-League team is another example of the team trying to penny pinch (we got in a discussion about whether or not this is a one year outlier or if they'll be frugal moving forward on our post game show last night).

 

Neil has been anti GL well before the recent penny pinching.

 

True, I wonder what the reasoning behind that is. I also wonder why they actually used both of their 2-way contracts this year after not using them last year. Maybe he was forced to do so?

 

Is that the ghost of Greg Oden I hear whispering? Just kill me now!

 

He has talked about it multiple times saying the practice they have against their own teammates do much more than some pickup games in the G-League.

 

so there is still no date?

when do we start preparing for worst case, properly?

 

well we have a situation now when the player himself is lamenting lack of team practices. i wonder what the team does when they send down our guys to other teams' affiliates-- does the team pay for their stints?

 

I get that sure, but if they had their own G-League team they would hire the coaching staff and could be much more involved in what those players are learning and doing. Currently only the Blazers and Nuggets do not have a G-League team. They have very little control over the guys they send to other teams.

Last year GS had a player that wasn't old enough to be eligible to be drafted on their G-League team (Smailagic) who they groomed and had a whole year to watch develop and then drafted him with the 39th pick in the 2019 draft. Who knows if he'll be good but Portland doesn't even have that same opportunity right now.

 

Uh, don't they have the highest payroll in the league?

 

Yup, they sure do!

But something happened between last summer where it was "money wasn't an issue at all" and this season where every move has been financially motivated.

 

Given what Toronto has done with their farm team, you'd think every franchise would invest heavily in a gleague team. What they've churned out in just the past few years is just amazing, including their coach!

 

I really don't expect Nurk to be back but I will give it to March 15 and if he not practicing by then he will not got back. Zach has better chance then Nurk.

 

I'm gonna give it until tax day!

 

Steph has been assigned to their GLeague team so that he can get practice time.



Keep thinking the GLeague is useless, Neil.