Would Danny reach for Nurkic at #5?

[Tr1boy]

http://www.sportando.com/en/usa/nba/118225/danny-ainge-flew-to-belgrade-to-see-jusuf-nurkic.html

Danny Ainge will attend this evening to the ABA Final between Cibona Zagreb and Cedevita Zagreb, David Pick reports. The Director of Basketball Operations for the Celtics is very interested in seeing young Cedevita's center Jusuf Nurkic. He saw the Semifinal between Cedevita and Partizan and was very impressed by him.
 
Nurkic averaged 11.8 points and 5.7 rebounds in ABA League playing only 16.4 minutes per game.

How shocked would you be if Danny chose Nurkic at 5?

He recently performed very well in the ABA tourney. He is 6'11 , with a 7'2-7'3 wingspan, 9'2 reach and also weighs a massive 270-280 pounds.  But is pretty quick for a center.

Will not likely be the rim protector everyone was hoping for next season, but is still considered decent and on par with someone like a Jonas Valenciunas.  Is an excellent rebounder and has pretty advanced offensive skills for his age/as a Center.  He would provide scoring from the post opening things up for everyone else

I could also see Danny try to trade down for him later but who knows maybe a team like the Lakers will take a chance on him earlier.

Potential starting lineup

C - Jurkic
PF - Olynyk/Sullinger
SF - Green
SG- AB
PG - Rondo

Bench
C - pickup FA center like Stiemnsma
SF/SG  - 17th pick (Scorer)

Pressey, Johnson, Wallace, Bass



Thoughts?

[slamtheking]

way too high for him to be picked.  Lakers wouldn't take him at #6 either.  I think anything earlier then 12 is a reach for him.  there are proven college players available that a smart GM would take before him since he still needs some real development/training

[BleedGreen1989]

Love Nurkic at #17.

Hate him at #5.

[PhoSita]

That would definitely be a reach.  If we're going Euro @ #5, I'd rather go with Saric.

[Tr1boy]

Another question.  If nurkic played in the ncaa how good would he have been??  Imo prob very good and possibly more productive then Embiid

[bballdog384]

What are the chances of us actually taking our pick at ~ #5?

If we trade it (or both #5 and #17), there's a good chance that the C's will have a pick between the 8-15 range. Best to take a good luck at everyone. In Danny we trust.

[PhoSita]

What are the chances of us actually taking our pick at ~ #5?

Very good, in my opinion, unless the Wolves are willing to trade Kevin Love for the #5 and other assets.  Personally, I don't think a package based around the #5 would get the Wolves to give up on Love as soon as draft day.

There just aren't any other really good scorers or overall valuable players likely to be available on draft day that would be worth giving up our top pick, in my opinion.

[footey]

No chance.  He is not ready to contribute. Would have very few minutes his first year.

[celticmania]

Another question.  If nurkic played in the ncaa how good would he have been??  Imo prob very good and possibly more productive then Embiid

He may have had a better college season than Demarcus Cousins had. Nurkic averages 28.2 pp40 and 13.6 rp40 Plus 2 bp40. Dmc had about 26 points 17 rebounds and 3 blocks per 40 in college. Plus Nurkic played in a better league

[RebusRankin]

No way Danny takes him at 5.

[loco_91]

I would be surprised, but not displeased. Read Dean Demakis's excellent review of Nurkic http://deanondraft.com/2014/02/19/jusuf-nurkic-the-bosnian-boogie/. The upshot is that his Adriatic League stats are outstanding, and that his primary shortcoming so far has been constant foul trouble. Nurkic's defensive fundamentals need work before he can be the rim protector the C's need, but he certainly has the tools, and his post game is already strong enough for him to get minutes as a rookie.

[sofutomygaha]

I would be completely, utterly crestfallen. Beyond shocked. I would start stockpiling water for my bomb shelter.

He's a solid speculative pick at 17. Five would be an obscene reach.

He did not have much of an impact on the Adriatic Tournament from what I can tell. I think you're spinning this up a little bit.

[D.o.s.]

No way Danny takes him at 5.

[86MaxwellSmart]

This Draft might be a lot like 2007...Where C's fans come away shaking their heads, wondering Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. Danny is doing...Until the other shoe drops in the Summer.

[Eddie20]

Maybe in a trade up (from 17) or down (from our pick) scenario, but strongly doubt he takes him at 5. Too much of a reach and not a very good value pick.

On another note, I really question his reported weight of 270-280. He doesn't look anywhere near that weight.