Nurkic is the best true pick and roll player Lillard has played with

Yeah. Denver had two centers, strictly centers, so they traded one of them. They sold low, but Nurkic always produced when given starter minutes in Denver.

 

And why did they sell low? He acted unprofessional and pouted. I'm glad the change of scenery was all he needed (apparently), but this is a bit of revisionist history. They sold low, because he damaged his stock with his behavior.

 

Which was the best possible situation for us.

 

Absolutely.

 

Come on, we all know it was a carefully crafted plan by Nurkic and his best friend N.Olshey

 

You mean the guy who introduced himself as Neilski Olsheyovich?

 

The Ringer echoes this thread nicely...good read!

 

I feel like there's always two sides to a story. Denver fans aren't particularly happy with how Malone goes about his rotation. Isn't it possible that Nurkic got tired of how Malone was handling the rotation and did what a lot of young guys do (pout)? Maybe he saw that he had no shot at reclaiming the starter position because Jokic is amazing, so he lost heart. I don't know because I'm not privy to what happened behind the scenes, but it's in the best interest of Denver to smear the guy because they already look stupid for this trade.

 

I have to admit I do wonder if there is another shoe that's going to drop, but I think it's likely that we have simply benefitted from a little immaturity from a 22 year old that felt like he may have been buried on the bench and was being forced into a much smaller future contract. It was probably in his own self interest to not "take one for the team."

 

He has nothing to fear here. His only competition for minutes is Meyers fucking Leonard and Ed Davis (when he's healthy.) I'd feel pretty good about my chances too, if I was him.

 

I hope some Bosnian Beast rubs hard on him.

 

It's also OK to just accept things at face value in the absence of behind-the-scenes information. Maybe he just needed to grow up? We shouldn't have to whitewash the past to enjoy the fact that it seems like he's on the right track now.

 

Zach Randolph has been great for Memphis for years after growing up as a person. People learn lessons.

 

What I wouldn't give for a Przybilla off the bench. Just to keep the nasty going.

 

I think it's the nature of the coach...he's 22 and some guys respond to the angry guy who's tense all the time and some guys don't. Stotts seems to be able to get players relaxed and comfortable with his direction...Ed Davis mentioned how different it is being here and Ed's been around the block. Nurkic keeps saying he's having fun now...that says something.

 

I'm not necessarily saying it's false info, or whitewashing it, but I also don't think we should necessarily just believe everything that is released.

Then again, they practically paid us to take him off their hands

 

Against Meyers, I'd feel good about my chances if I were me, much less him.

 

That's not what I'm talking about. Lots of guys don't like their coaches, but when you are getting paid millions of dollars, half-assing it and mailing it in, isn't by definition, "professional" behavior. That's all I'm saying. I think Nurkic was traded for peanuts because he didn't do much to help his perceived value.

It now seems like the change of scenery has done him good and that maybe he needed a trade to "wake him up."

Good for us.

 

Valid point but I think the culture here I have to give some credit to.

 

That's the mind blowing part of the story for me, based on the results thus far.

I keep watching for body language/signs of discomfort with him from his teammates and so far so good. Worst I can see is a bit of a "Great shot, kid, don't get cocky" kind of vibe, which I can live with.