First Domino: Nurkic to Portland

[action781]

Also, why couldn't we get on this deal?

Surely we could offer a better deal than Portland, no? Tyler Zeller and 2 second rounders, maybe?

Maybe they don't want Zeller and they really want Plumlee.  I think many of us are viewing this incorrectly if we think they just wanted to dump Nurkic for nothing.

[bogg]

Why did Denver do this deal? I don't get it

I'm not necessarily saying they're right, but I think they really valued Plumlee's passing out of the 4/5 spot and think he might be mobile enough to play alongside Jokic, giving them excellent passing out of their big men to make up for the fact that more or less all of their young guards are combo-types. The more I think about it, this wasn't so much about moving Nurkic as it was getting Plumlee from Denver's perspective. Now, that being said, they may be making a bad bet.

I also think this indicates that Gallo is a very likely candidate to be moved over the next week and a half.

[max215]

Why did Denver do this deal? I don't get it

I'm not necessarily saying they're right, but I think they really valued Plumlee's passing out of the 4/5 spot and think he might be mobile enough to play alongside Jokic, giving them excellent passing out of their big men to make up for the fact that more or less all of their young guards are combo-types. The more I think about it, this wasn't so much about moving Nurkic as it was getting Plumlee from Denver's perspective. Now, that being said, they may be making a bad bet.

I also think this indicates that Gallo is a very likely candidate to be moved over the next week and a half.

Marc Stein confirmed your suspicion about Gallo.

[Tr1boy]

Why did Denver do this deal? I don't get it

Because this is how much interest there was for an ancient technology like Nurkic

[IDreamCeltics]

What a great deal for Portland to pick up both Nurkic and a first for Plumlee. I get that Denver wanted to move on from Nurkic but that's a terrible move by them.

When I read it in the NBA TV ticker, I thought Denver is getting Plumlee and a first. Instead, they are giving up the young, promising player along with the first.

That sounds like a bad move by the Nuggets.

But a slam dunk for Portland.  1st rounder and a talented prospect to replace an outgoing free-agent... This is the kind of thing Ainge would have pulled off before he became gun-shy.

[chambers]

Nurkic is a dinosaur. He's like Vucevic but a little more aggressive.
Cant defend pick and roll, very slow, can't shoot.

Surprised how many people are saying this was a huge win for Portland. I mean they got a first rounder but Plumlee is the better player.

[trickybilly]

So Denver plan on paying him?

I think Denver are on the verge of many more trades. Gallo out, Chandler out, Faried out.

Maybe they are planning on paying Will Barton huge money at the end of next year, given his improved shooting.

If they rebuild though they risk alienating Jokic, who looks like he could be a perennial all-star.

[IDreamCeltics]

I wonder if we had offered Zeller and Smart for Nurkic and a first if that would have gotten it done?

[bogg]

I wonder if we had offered Zeller and Smart for Nurkic and a first if that would have gotten it done?

No reason to give up Smart. I think Nurkic is an interesting potential pickup, but Smart does a lot for this team. 

[Irish Stew]

Confusing.  I thought the 1st and 2nd rounders would have been reversed.

[chambers]

I wonder if we had offered Zeller and Smart for Nurkic and a first if that would have gotten it done?

They could give us Barton and Nurkic for Smart and Zeller and Ainge still wouldn't do it.
Nurkic is very one dimensional, Barton will be looking to get paid next year.

[RockinRyA]

Nurkic is a dinosaur. He's like Vucevic but a little more aggressive.
Cant defend pick and roll, very slow, can't shoot.

Surprised how many people are saying this was a huge win for Portland. I mean they got a first rounder but Plumlee is the better player.

I agree.

[LilRip]

Plumlee is quite a productive player whereas Nurkic is "alright". Denver got the best player in this deal imo. The only reason this doesn't make sense is because it's Denver. What exactly are they trying to do??

I would think that Denver would be gearing up for the future (trading the rest of their vets away for expiring contracts) and this would be like a Raef Lafrentz move. But by giving up a first rounder, it seems like they have plans of keeping Plumlee?

[Csfan1984]

When I see this trade I wonder about Okafor and top 10 protected 2018 76ers 1st for AB? Okafor isn't exactly great but he is young and can become a solid Center still. This shows the market isn't high for big guys who have holes in their game.

[greece66]

denver will at least experiment with lineups including both jokic and plumlee.

they didnt give up all this for a back up center.