First Domino: Nurkic to Portland

[max215]

The first big is off the board, per Woj.

Portland sends Mason Plumlee a 2018 second round pick for Nurkic and a 2017 first-rounder (via Memphis), league sources tell @TheVertical

https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/830843116517261312

[MJohnnyboy]

Whoa, a trade that actually makes sense for both sides. That's a rarity for this season.

[The One]

Cool...I like the  Nurkic and Portland fit.

I'm not sure about Plumlee and Denver though.

[RJ87]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojVerticalNBA  3 minutes ago
Portland has three first-round picks in the loaded 2017 NBA Draft now.

I like Nurkic in Portland a lot. I think it's a lateral move or Denver.

[oldtype]

Denver gets to keep playing a high-post playmaking style even when Jokic is off the floor with Plumlee.  Being able to run your offense consistently across the first and second units is good.

Portland gets a center who's (theoretically) a better rim protector and doesn't have to pay Plumlee a billion dollars in the summer anymore.

Kind of puzzled how Portland ended up upgrading a 2nd to a 1st in the process, but I suppose Denver just wanted the trade more.  Makes sense both ways.

[max215]

Cool...I like the  Nurkic and Portland fit.

I'm not sure about Plumlee and Denver though.

The Portland side makes sense to me. Nurkic is theoretically a better defender than Plumlee, and, more importantly, Portland avoids paying Plumlee this offseason. Picking up another first this year is gravy. I have no idea what Denver is doing, though. Plumlee is nearly an equally bad fit alongside Jokic, and they gave up a first.

[oldtype]

One less big the C's could go for, but I see why we wouldn't want to dump an asset into this when Zizic is looking like a carbon copy of Nurkic who's two years younger.

[konkmv]

Nurkic and a first for plumee?bad trade from denver

[Surferdad]

Nurkic and a first for plumee?bad trade from denver

have to agree.  Not sure what their plan is.

[Eddie20]

Cool...I like the  Nurkic and Portland fit.

I'm not sure about Plumlee and Denver though.

The Portland side makes sense to me. Nurkic is theoretically a better defender than Plumlee, and, more importantly, Portland avoids paying Plumlee this offseason. Picking up another first this year is gravy. I have no idea what Denver is doing, though. Plumlee is nearly an equally bad fit alongside Jokic, and they gave up a first.

Not true. Offensively Plumlee is an excellent passer who doesn't clog the lane with postups. Instead, he sets great screens and does a lot of rim running off those screens. Defensively he's very athletic and quick. He excels on defending on the perimeter due to his good lateral quickness.

[Roy H.]

Portland gets Nurkic and a #1? Good deal for them.

Plumlee is solid, but he and Nurkic aren't that far apart.

[bdm860]

Two teams in the same division who've been neck and neck for the #8 seed all year, will be interesting to see if one of them can break out a little after this.

[Csfan1984]

There must be some cash thrown in can't imagine that robbery Plum is a FA. Why give up a pick for him and on top of that Nurkic the better prospect. Though I like Plum's P&R.

[Tr1boy]

Nurkic and a first for plumee?bad trade from denver

Bad move for Portland

Plumlee is a proven role player.... like a Smart PF/C version. Works his butt off

Why couldn't portland unload the bum Leonard instead? I would have included a 1st in addition

The combination of Jokic on the outside and plumlee patrolling the paint could end up being wonderful for Denver

[bogg]

Cool...I like the  Nurkic and Portland fit.

I'm not sure about Plumlee and Denver though.

The Portland side makes sense to me. Nurkic is theoretically a better defender than Plumlee, and, more importantly, Portland avoids paying Plumlee this offseason. Picking up another first this year is gravy. I have no idea what Denver is doing, though. Plumlee is nearly an equally bad fit alongside Jokic, and they gave up a first.

Not true. Offensively Plumlee is an excellent passer who doesn't clog the lane with postups. Instead, he sets great screens and does a lot of rim running off those screens. Defensively he's very athletic and quick. He excels on defending on the perimeter due to his good lateral quickness.

This is all true, but Plumlee also turns 27 in a couple weeks, while Nurkic is only 22. Coupled with the contract situations, picking up a spare first makes this a nice deal for Portland.