Scout: Nurkic is like a Demarcus Cousin type

[perks-a-beast]

I'd be ecstatic if the Celtics could trade down for Nurkic. It's going to take him a while to adjust to the NBA game. He'll find himself in foul trouble a lot his rookie year, just like Sullinger did, but I think in the long run he'll be a really nice weapon to have. I love the idea of having a Sullinger/Olynyk/Nurkic frontcourt to build around. Those guys all have a great feel for the interior game as well as superior passing skills for big men. They'd compliment each other really nicely.

Any chance we could trade the #6 and a future second to the Hornets for the #9 and #24. That way we could end up with Nurkic, Anderson and Adams. That would make me more than okay with not ending up in the top 3.

[Galeto]

I'd be ecstatic if the Celtics could trade down for Nurkic. It's going to take him a while to adjust to the NBA game. He'll find himself in foul trouble a lot his rookie year, just like Sullinger did, but I think in the long run he'll be a really nice weapon to have. I love the idea of having a Sullinger/Olynyk/Nurkic frontcourt to build around. Those guys all have a great feel for the interior game as well as superior passing skills for big men. They'd compliment each other really nicely.

Any chance we could trade the #6 and a future second to the Hornets for the #9 and #24. That way we could end up with Nurkic, Anderson and Adams. That would make me more than okay with not ending up in the top 3.

No offense but coming away with Nurkic, Anderson and Adams would be a nightmare.  The latter two are two of the worst athletes in the draft, with Anderson maybe the worst overall.  He has one of the worst skill to athlete ratios I've ever seen.  Nurkic has certain athletic strong points like a very quick second leap and high level balance and coordination but he's a marginal leaper at best.  Having Nurkic, Anderson, Adams, Olynyk and Sullinger occupy potentially 1/3 of the roster would put the team in contention for the least athletic team in the modern era. 

I don't think Nurkic is Cousins.  They're too different stylistically.  Nurkic lives on the block whereas Cousins tries to do everything, with some good and some bad results.  I would take Nurkic over Cousins on the block because I think his touch is better and he plays with a stronger base.  Nikola Petkovic is a better comparison.

[Ogaju]

I am going to check out Sarbonis tape see how he compares.

Okay SARBONIS has better handles and more athleticism.

[knuckleballer]

I am going to check out Sarbonis tape see how he compares.

Okay SARBONIS has better handles and more athleticism.

Sabonis was awesome.  If he came to the NBA at a young age, he'd be considered an all time great.

[Emmette Bryant]

Lucky i found this game on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mxgFNST8Rc

I saw most of the game and helped pick out parts for celtics fans to see of what we could expect if we draft this kid

6:05-6:38 - For his size he moves pretty darn quick. Good agility.  Good looking defense, physical
8:34 - post move basket
12:44 - nice block
13:24 - nice pass
14:17 - nice pass again. I'm impressed with his court awareness. Also fights for an offensive rebound
17:46 - nice little hook shot. He is aware of where the net is without having to look
58:40 - nice hook shot off the backboard. Really quick
1:15:10 - again too easy. Beautiful spin , off the backboard move

Nice to also see our old friends Allan Ray and Colton Iverson play.  Iverson looks quicker, as chippy as ever. But of course doesn't have much skill. Nurkic looks like he is 5 times more skilled than Iverson. Once he gets the ball he knows what to do with it. He wasn't flying around swatting shots like crazy but he usually had his hands up trying to make things difficult for other to score over. His rebounding skills is also fine.  Good at boxing out.

I'm beginning to like what i see.  What do you guys think?

Dude.  TP for finding and watching the game plus pointing out the highlights.

[Kane3387]

Demarcus cousins is a much better athlete.

[Tr1boy]

I'm reading Nurkic signed a 4 year extension with his current team (until 2018) in Feb/March 2014.

Then i'm reading on forums that there are no contract obligations/complications and can play in the nba as soon as next season. His agent is Leon Rose

Can anybody explain how this works? 

[Tr1boy]

Lucky i found this game on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mxgFNST8Rc

I saw most of the game and helped pick out parts for celtics fans to see of what we could expect if we draft this kid

6:05-6:38 - For his size he moves pretty darn quick. Good agility.  Good looking defense, physical
8:34 - post move basket
12:44 - nice block
13:24 - nice pass
14:17 - nice pass again. I'm impressed with his court awareness. Also fights for an offensive rebound
17:46 - nice little hook shot. He is aware of where the net is without having to look
58:40 - nice hook shot off the backboard. Really quick
1:15:10 - again too easy. Beautiful spin , off the backboard move

Nice to also see our old friends Allan Ray and Colton Iverson play.  Iverson looks quicker, as chippy as ever. But of course doesn't have much skill. Nurkic looks like he is 5 times more skilled than Iverson. Once he gets the ball he knows what to do with it. He wasn't flying around swatting shots like crazy but he usually had his hands up trying to make things difficult for other to score over. His rebounding skills is also fine.  Good at boxing out.

I'm beginning to like what i see.  What do you guys think?

Dude.  TP for finding and watching the game plus pointing out the highlights.

np. what do you think of his game?

[Roy H.]

Demarcus cousins is a much better athlete.

Yeah, I don't see any Cousins in him, even adjusting for the Adriatic League bias that makes Saric a Larry Bird clone.

His size intrigues me, though.  He kinda looks like Big Country Reeves.

[knuckleballer]

Nurkic looks to me like he has poor jumping ability and a low release point on his shots around the rim.  He's big, strong and skilled.  I don't think he's worthy of the 6th pick, but if the Celts can get him with the 17th pick or move up a few spots, he'd be an interesting gamble.

[Tr1boy]

Demarcus cousins is a much better athlete.

Yeah, I don't see any Cousins in him, even adjusting for the Adriatic League bias that makes Saric a Larry Bird clone.

His size intrigues me, though.  He kinda looks like Big Country Reeves.

That is actually a very good comparison.  Similar game also

[pokeKingCurtis]

I'm reading Nurkic signed a 4 year extension with his current team (until 2018) in Feb/March 2014.

Then i'm reading on forums that there are no contract obligations/complications and can play in the nba as soon as next season. His agent is Leon Rose

Can anybody explain how this works?

Probably works exactly how you put it?

Like a reverse non-guaranteed contract.

[chambers]

Nice summary triboy.

I personally am worried about Nurkic. He looks like he has quick feet in this video but it's deceptive. Watch other videos vs good defenders and he really struggles vs length.
He's frustrating because his numbers and stats are amazing, but he's only playing 16 minutes.
On paper he looks solid but I can't see the upside of this kid.

ie in that game his spin move around 1 hr 15 mins is nice, but the defense is just garbage. There's a reason Colton Iverson scores 20 points in games over there.

He throws up a lot of flat, lazer shots which are quick and fast of the backboard, but again, vs NBA defenders those will get chewed up.

My preference, if we are going for a big man, is to get a legit shot blocker/rim protector with upside.
My guy is Clint Capela...he needs to put on some muscle, but he's got incredible timing and anticipation on defense.... here's a bit of quick footage from the recent hoop summit.

Clint Capela 6' 11"
Standing reach 9' 2.5" standing reach
7' 5" wingspan
31.5' max vertical (last measurement was taken in 2013)
weight 221 pounds

Nurkic 6' 11.5"
standing reach 9' 1.5'
wingspan 7' 2"
23 inch max vertical (measured 2013 also)
weight 280 pounds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5BICh_Z82A

[CoachBo]

Weird.  Nbadraft.net has him going in the 2nd round.

Ugh. Project city.

Maybe early second round.

[Tr1boy]

Nice summary triboy.

I personally am worried about Nurkic. He looks like he has quick feet in this video but it's deceptive. Watch other videos vs good defenders and he really struggles vs length.
He's frustrating because his numbers and stats are amazing, but he's only playing 16 minutes.
On paper he looks solid but I can't see the upside of this kid.

ie in that game his spin move around 1 hr 15 mins is nice, but the defense is just garbage. There's a reason Colton Iverson scores 20 points in games over there.

He throws up a lot of flat, lazer shots which are quick and fast of the backboard, but again, vs NBA defenders those will get chewed up.

My preference, if we are going for a big man, is to get a legit shot blocker/rim protector with upside.
My guy is Clint Capela...he needs to put on some muscle, but he's got incredible timing and anticipation on defense.... here's a bit of quick footage from the recent hoop summit.

Clint Capela 6' 11"
Standing reach 9' 2.5" standing reach
7' 5" wingspan
31.5' max vertical (last measurement was taken in 2013)
weight 221 pounds

Nurkic 6' 11.5"
standing reach 9' 1.5'
wingspan 7' 2"
23 inch max vertical (measured 2013 also)
weight 280 pounds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5BICh_Z82A

No way his max vert can be that low. Kelly Olynyk's no step vertical is 24.5. 

Capela has some nice physical tools but he is raw and about 20-30 pounds of muscle away from being able to play in the NBA (if he ever will).   The celts can't be waiting on projects to develop unless its a guy like Kristaps Porzingis who is already very skilled and just needs to add weight/strength.