This deserves its own thread. He is showing that he could be a legitimate two-way player - at center. That's pretty rare. The last Blazer center who played both ends - Sabonis?
What a class guy. A team Defensive gem. He could play bass in a heavy metal band if he wanted to. It felt good to get a win against a quality team.
No, this was one move that looks good at the moment, but Portland is still a lotto team on the cusp of the luxury tax. That's not good any way you slice/dice it.
It was certainly a good deal for Portland but I don't know how much crow there is to be served. Olshey made a deal because he had to due to the salary cap. If they could have kept Plumlee, do you think he would have been traded? He put himself in a spot of his own doing and then made a move he had no choice to make. That's not to take away from how well it has or will turn out.....but there wasn't really a choice.
These aren't fake assists either. He's making quick decisions, creating passing lanes, and throwing dimes. Dude has such a crazy skillset and level of comfort at age 22. I really wanna explore his post scoring more. His moves looks so fluid. None of this pounding the ball into the floor like Kanter/Aldridge always do.
I'm loving the trade at the moment, but I'm cautiously optimistic. Will we be trading Nurk at next year's deadline? Will we be signing him to a huge contract (honestly, without seeing him further, a big deal scares me - if a guy could sulk the way he did in Denver, will he remain motivated once he has a big payday?)? Or will things just work out like peanut butter-and-jelly?
From what I had read, he and the Denver coach were not on the same page. He was a bench player for that reason. He loves it in Portland because he said he contributes as a defensive team member. He likes the guys. He loves to pass. He worked out with a trainer double duty in Cal. to get into great playing shape. With a winning streak, Turner coming back and his consistent play we may catch a playoff berth. We really needed this win at home.
Dame seems giddy about him. He's gonna be our Draymond. We have the culture to keep Nurk in check if his attitude goes sour.
Yes. They didn't see eye-to-eye because he wasn't starting and getting enough PT. So he coasted. It's certainly a different reason to coast, but guys that coast for one reason are still riskier to coast for other reasons. I'm not saying it will happen once he gets the first of two possible big, long-term deals, but the possibility exists. These guys are paid big money to play basketball. I struggle to fully embrace guys that find a reason to coast for any reason.
Another weird coincidence. Nurk was drafted by the Bulls and traded away on draft night (along with Gary Harris for McDermott-- ouch). We seem to have success with big guys the Bulls trade away in the draft
Yeah it's a real concern. Sure everything seems OK for now because he's got PT and he's in the honeymoon phase, but what's he going to do when the motivation to show the Nuggets they fucked up wanes? Maybe nothing changes and it's all sunshine and rainbows from here on out, but who knows?
Not denying that Nurkic could have handled this better, but I think Malone is at least partially to blame. He never gave this dude extended minutes. I distinctly remember an early season game when Nurk was giving Plums fits in the first half, but he barely played in the second. Malone also screwed around with Jokic's minutes earlier this year and even benched him for a period (I followed this closely because my fantasy team desperately needed Jokic). Needless to say, Malone seems like a hard ass, and Nurk needs some coddling. And they don't really have much leadership outside of an insignificant vet in Jameer Nelson on that squad. Which is fine for us. We have the leadership and culture to keep him in check. We need a bit of a volatile attitude on this team to stir things up anyway.
Oh, my, god. Terry, look at that Nurk. He is so big. [scoff] He looks like one of those Nuggets centers. But, you know, who understands those Nuggets? [scoff] They only drafed him because he looks like a total Sabonis, 'kay? I mean, that Nurk, is just so big. I can't believe he's just so huge, he's like, out there, I mean— gross. Look! He's just so... HUGE!
