Portland has stabilized recently. We will see if it has staying power. I don't see an avenue for Nurkic now unless they crater. I am also not sure if he is the ideal fit here. Can he finish games with KP? Anyway, Hollinger did an article on his top 25 free agents. Nurkic is at 18 on the list. For comparison Jalen was 10 and DFS was 20.
On the other hand, it could be a guy who gets lost in the mid range where he is not elite but better than a minimum type of guy. Someone you get on a solid contract or low sign and trade who gets healthy and is a sneaky really good signing.
18. Jusuf Nurkic, C, Blazers: Jusuf Nurkic hasn’t been the same player since a gruesome 2019 leg injury. While he’s superficially put up some quality numbers in 2021-22, his eye test doesn’t quite back it up and, as with Covington above, the Blazers are often closing games with him on the bench.
Nurkic’s salary of $12 million limits what Portland can offer in an extension to $14.4 million for 2022-23, but this may not matter. Given Portland’s annual battle against the tax line, the Blazers could decide to move on to a different option here for next season. As with Covington above, a trade this season could also help the Blazers skirt the luxury tax
On the other hand, it could be a guy who gets lost in the mid range where he is not elite but better than a minimum type of guy. Someone you get on a solid contract or low sign and trade who gets healthy and is a sneaky really good signing.
18. Jusuf Nurkic, C, Blazers: Jusuf Nurkic hasn’t been the same player since a gruesome 2019 leg injury. While he’s superficially put up some quality numbers in 2021-22, his eye test doesn’t quite back it up and, as with Covington above, the Blazers are often closing games with him on the bench.
Nurkic’s salary of $12 million limits what Portland can offer in an extension to $14.4 million for 2022-23, but this may not matter. Given Portland’s annual battle against the tax line, the Blazers could decide to move on to a different option here for next season. As with Covington above, a trade this season could also help the Blazers skirt the luxury tax