First Domino: Nurkic to Portland

[bogg]

Portland improves.  Not sure what Denver really gets out of this?

Plumlee plays a more similar game to Jokic than Nurkic does, so you can run a lot of the same stuff with Plumlee backing up Jokic instead of needing a whole different system for an offense featuring Nurkic in the middle. I think it's a lot to pay for Plumlee, but I at least get it.

Key is will plumlee be in denver when contract ends?  He is going to be overpaid by someone else.  Half season rental and you give a first rounder?

Well, that's the risk they take. RFA tends to make teams think twice on the open market and Denver will have the right to match any offer (as well as boatloads of cap space and a relatively clean cap sheet going forward). My guess is they intend to keep him long term.

[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.

I know that their Euro numbers similar but the tape makes me feel Zizic will be the better player. More fluid.

You know, now that I think of it, Plumlee would actually be a pretty good fit for our team as well.  Not thrilled about paying his RFA money, of course.

[2short]

Portland improves.  Not sure what Denver really gets out of this?

Plumlee plays a more similar game to Jokic than Nurkic does, so you can run a lot of the same stuff with Plumlee backing up Jokic instead of needing a whole different system for an offense featuring Nurkic in the middle. I think it's a lot to pay for Plumlee, but I at least get it.

Key is will plumlee be in denver when contract ends?  He is going to be overpaid by someone else.  Half season rental and you give a first rounder?

Well, that's the risk they take. RFA tends to make teams think twice on the open market and Denver will have the right to match any offer (as well as boatloads of cap space and a relatively clean cap sheet going forward). My guess is they intend to keep him long term.

Problem is they might end up with an Asik like contract for a backup!

[bogg]

Portland improves.  Not sure what Denver really gets out of this?

Plumlee plays a more similar game to Jokic than Nurkic does, so you can run a lot of the same stuff with Plumlee backing up Jokic instead of needing a whole different system for an offense featuring Nurkic in the middle. I think it's a lot to pay for Plumlee, but I at least get it.

Key is will plumlee be in denver when contract ends?  He is going to be overpaid by someone else.  Half season rental and you give a first rounder?

Well, that's the risk they take. RFA tends to make teams think twice on the open market and Denver will have the right to match any offer (as well as boatloads of cap space and a relatively clean cap sheet going forward). My guess is they intend to keep him long term.

Problem is they might end up with an Asik like contract for a backup!

If the guy is legitimately a good fit that's not actually a problem. Asik only averages around $11 million over this year and the next three - that's fine to pay a high-minutes reserve in the current cap environment. New Orleans' problem is that the team doesn't play well with Asik out there, which is a different issue.

[2short]

Portland improves.  Not sure what Denver really gets out of this?

Plumlee plays a more similar game to Jokic than Nurkic does, so you can run a lot of the same stuff with Plumlee backing up Jokic instead of needing a whole different system for an offense featuring Nurkic in the middle. I think it's a lot to pay for Plumlee, but I at least get it.

Key is will plumlee be in denver when contract ends?  He is going to be overpaid by someone else.  Half season rental and you give a first rounder?

Well, that's the risk they take. RFA tends to make teams think twice on the open market and Denver will have the right to match any offer (as well as boatloads of cap space and a relatively clean cap sheet going forward). My guess is they intend to keep him long term.

Problem is they might end up with an Asik like contract for a backup!

If the guy is legitimately a good fit that's not actually a problem. Asik only averages around $11 million over this year and the next three - that's fine to pay a high-minutes reserve in the current cap environment. New Orleans' problem is that the team doesn't play well with Asik out there, which is a different issue.

True, we are probably better with zeller as a 3rd option.  Asik good rebounder and defender but he makes NO 4 on 5 on offense

[pearljammer10]

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.

[Smartacus]

Actually think I see it from Denver's perspective. They have a really interesting roster where they're close enough to deep play off contention but they have too many young guys with no playoff experience filling their rotation.

I think Plumlee being 27 was part of the appeal.  He fits the age curve of Galinari, Wilson Chandler, Jameer Nelson better. There arent many front courts where Plumlee would be a back up but doing so behind a young burgeoning star in Nikola Jokic eases the pain up a bit and would let him start at times depending on the matchup.

It's the same strategy that I think Philly will utilise to lock up Noel as Embiid insurance. You overpay to shore up the back up position of your most talented player and keep the athleticism coming out of your 5 spot when he hits the bench. Think they like how Nerlens can keep the defensive pressure up when Embiid's out of the game and Embiid has yet to show he can play 60 games let alone 82+. Same thing for Denver, they have no intention of putting Jokic out every night. Plumlee keeps the train going without too much drop off.

Good for Portland to get that kind of return on an impending free agent. They get some grit and maybe even toughness with a guy who could be a solid fit for their rotation.

Good for Denver to get a cornerstone big man to pair with your franchise player.

Bet both players resign. Great trade.

P.S. Good news for us in the potential Nerlens chase since Portland was Noel's other most obvious suiter. Like I said above I think he could stay in Philly but maybe it's possible that Philly likes Richaun Holms enough to make Noel expendable for the right price.

[saltlover]

Portland improves.  Not sure what Denver really gets out of this?

Plumlee plays a more similar game to Jokic than Nurkic does, so you can run a lot of the same stuff with Plumlee backing up Jokic instead of needing a whole different system for an offense featuring Nurkic in the middle. I think it's a lot to pay for Plumlee, but I at least get it.

Key is will plumlee be in denver when contract ends?  He is going to be overpaid by someone else.  Half season rental and you give a first rounder?

I think Denver is more likely to be able to ward off potential suitors than Portland, since they're under the cap.  Portland was over the luxury tax, and would be unlikely to match Plumlee.  Furthermore, if Denver thought they might use cap space to sign Plumlee in the offseason, they've essentially created extra cap room to use for next season, since they can go above his cap hold to sign him after spending their cap room.

I don't think it's a great deal by Denver, but if they wanted Nurkic gone (there have been multiple rumors that he's not best teammate), then they could have done worse.  Plumlee is definitely the better of the two this year.

[mctyson]

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.

WHY did Denver give up a 1st rounder ?!?!

[Yoki_IsTheName]

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.

[MBunge]

This trade is a great illustration of the power of perspective.  Both teams are well under .500, with Denver in the 8th spot out West and Portland in the 9th.  But Denver looks at their roster and thinks they're ready to compete, so they give up a young player and a first rounder for a better player they'll have to pay a lot to keep.  Portland looks at their roster and sees nothing beyond Liliard and McCollum while they've got one of the highest payrolls in the league.  There is one way they could afford Plumlee so trading him for potential and a pick makes perfect sense.

Mike

[Big333223]

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.

They must have really wanted to dump Nurkic. Maybe they aren't even planning on resigning Plumlee.

[rickyfan3.0...]

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

[Darío SpanishFan]

This is the kind of deal Ainge likes doing, much in the style of Crowder and Isaiah. If he hasn't pulled the trigger now means he has a plan, whichever is it (getting a big free agent in summer, trading for a greater player, etc). Trust him.

Sorry if someone has stated the same point, I am so surprised by the trade (Portland gets a lot for a little) that I have been inclined to write and then read, a bad thing.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

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?