Nurkic is a Blazer!!

[SlyPokerDog]

This is a silly take. Plumlee can play, but Nurkic is mystery meat and the first rounder is going to be in the twenties or late teens -- also mystery meat.

 

[Minstrel]

Neil was going to lose Plumlee and get nothing in return this summer, so this was the best possible outcome we could hope for.

I'm not high on Nurkic, but he's a big body and cheap so that's good. The first rounder this year is the real prize -- probably nothing special in the mid twenties, but three first rounders are valuable assets and provide some flexibility.

I was going to post something almost identical to this. Three first rounders, even if none of them will be spectacular (unless Portland really hits the skids now), is maybe the type of thing you can market to a rebuilding team. Like maybe Lillard or McCollum can fetch Jimmy Butler with some picks to grease the wheels.

 

[Jade Falcon]

Like the deal. Plumlee wouldn't have been afforrdable.

Now dump Meyers and Crabbe and things will be looking up.

With ET out for 6 weeks, I don't think we can afford to do that....unless you want Pat getting Crabbe's minutes.....

He'll probably be a better rim protector than Plumlee.

Oh I like that. That makes my pants tight.

No. Nurkic should start immediately.

This. Please.

I know you can make any player look good in a highlight video but this is impressive. I would recommend anyone who isn't familiar with his game to watch this video.

He was pretty good as a rookie:

This. This is the Defensive Big that we needed.

This team....just when I thought we were out....

 

[Driew]

I do love how Nurkic moves his feet on defense in that 2015 highlight video. That's very encouraging and half the battle to being half good on defense haha

 

[Minstrel]

This is very true. The hate level takes a big jump when our players get a contract bump.

It's not so much when they get a contract bump. I haven't seen people complaining about Lillard's or McCollum's contracts. It's when our players get really overpaid relative to their production. The possibility of that definitely exists with Plumlee.

 

[Pinwheel1]

It's not so much when they get a contract bump. I haven't seen people complaining about Lillard's or McCollum's contracts. It's when our players get really overpaid relative to their production. The possibility of that definitely exists with Plumlee.

Actually they have complained more about about Lillard, and CJ's has not yet gotten his raise. Give them time.

 

[Minstrel]

Actually they have complained more about about Lillard, and CJ's has not yet gotten his raise. Give them time.

All players will absorb criticism at times, whether expensive (Lillard) or not (Ed Davis). I'm saying that I haven't seen people complaining about Lillard's contract. He doesn't get "hate" based on being paid, he gets "hate" when he struggles, much like any player (not saying he should, but that's standard fan reaction and not necessarily connected to salary).

 

[Pinwheel1]

We have to keep our pick this year? or any of the 1st round picks? We traded last years right? And you can't do it two years in a row?

3 1st round picks and a young player is a good trading chip. But so is 2

 

[Scalma]

Btw, we also get Nurkic' dad who's a one man police force

 

[blue9]

If anything I think this makes us more likely/willing to surrender that Cleveland pick. And our unbalanced roster is still there, we just replaced Plumlee with Nurkic.

The roster may still be unbalanced, but it's more balanced than it was. I always thought Plumlee would be better as a PF than a C. So now we have an actual C, and someone that appears to be able to provide low-post scoring. Even if we just swapped players filling the same roster position, it still made us a more balanced team.

 

[Five Second Violation]

With ET out for 6 weeks, I don't think we can afford to do that....unless you want Pat getting Crabbe's minutes.....

Sounds awesome. Helps set us up a little better for the lottery this year.

 

[Pinwheel1]

All players will absorb criticism at times, whether expensive (Lillard) or not (Ed Davis). I'm saying that I haven't seen people complaining about Lillard's contract. He doesn't get "hate" based on being paid, he gets "hate" when he struggles, much like any player (not saying he should, but that's standard fan reaction and not necessarily connected to salary).

But in general over the last 25 years, the fact is fans in the NBA change their view of a player based on his salary.

 

[Scalma]

Sounds awesome. Helps set us up a little better for the lottery this year.

Free layman!

 

[Pinwheel1]

The Bosnia Beast. I do love his nick name......

 

[Minstrel]

I'd be okay with Olshey being done til the off-season. He did what he had to--got some value for a player he was going to have to lose for nothing otherwise in free agency. Rather than looking to trade for a power forward upgrade, in a non-contention season, I'd let Vonleh play starter minutes next to The Nurk and see what happens. Vonleh has shown some ability to shoot jumpers. If he can progress on defense, continue rebounding well and knock down some shots, he might fit well with Nurkic and solidify himself as, dare I say it, an asset.

And if he stinks--better draft pick. And we know more about Vonleh's upside.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Interesting player. He's a 22-year old with old man low post moves.

BNM

 

[Scalma]

I'd be okay with Olshey being done til the off-season. He did what he had to--got some value for a player he was going to have to lose for nothing otherwise in free agency. Rather than looking to trade for a power forward upgrade, in a non-contention season, I'd let Vonleh play starter minutes next to The Nurk and see what happens. Vonleh has shown some ability to shoot jumpers. If he can progress on defense, continue rebounding well and knock down some shots, he might fit well with Nurkic and solidify himself as, dare I say it, an asset.

And if he stinks--better draft pick. And we know more about Vonleh's upside.

Nurk/Vonleh does sound really intriguing. I thought Denver would be interested in Vonleh in a theoretical Nurkic trade, so I'm happy he's still here.

 

[Blazinaway]

Nurk/Vonleh does sound really intriguing. I thought Denver would be interested in Vonleh in a theoretical Nurkic trade, so I'm happy he's still here.

I would be happy to be proven wrong but Vonleh just does not seem to be "getting it"

 

[KeepOnRollin]

By the way, we also sent out "cash". It is a small detail but worth mentioning I guess.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...get-mason-plumlee-trade-portland-trailblazers

 

[PCmor7]

That's an incredible trade. I'll miss Plumlee, but I always said not to fall in love with your own players so you pass on good trades. With Plumlee's replacement, the Blazers get a scoring option in the paint that should open up the floor more for our guards. To get a mid-first-round pick back, too, in this year's draft is amazing.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Assuming Nurkic can actually play, I wouldn't expect a seamless transition; he seems like an I'll fit for Stotts' scheme. Now that might be as much of an indictment of Stotts as Nurkic, but I somehow envision a lot more "Meyers Lemon" and Nurkic getting 12-15 minute stints marked with inconsistency, as the guards fail to get him touches and hang him out to dry on defense with the usual diet of dribble penetration. If he does have a substantial impact it will probably be next season at the earliest.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I'd let Vonleh play starter minutes next to The Nurk and see what happens. Vonleh has shown some ability to shoot jumpers. If he can progress on defense, continue rebounding well and knock down some shots, he might fit well with Nurkic and solidify himself as, dare I say it, an asset.

And if he stinks--better draft pick. And we know more about Vonleh's upside.

I'll never be a fan of tanking, but the PF spot has been our weakness all season. At least Vonleh rebounds and plays some decent defense. I'm fine with him starting and actually playing starter minutes. Vonleh at 21 and Nurkic at 22 have the potential (there's that word again) to be our front court of the future, but it will take time. Might as well throw them out there, and really give it a chance, to see what happens. It's not like were winning a lot of games as is.

I will miss Plumlee. The guy just flat out brought it every night. I'll always respect that.

But Nurkic has never played with a back court like Dame and C.J. With their range, and the defensive attention they demand, he should have plenty of room to operate down low.

BNM

 

[Natebishop3]

I really like Plumlee, but he was gone this summer. No doubt. He was going to get AT LEAST a Mozgov type deal (16 million per year) and that was simply too much for Plums.

Nurkic has an extra year on his contract, so we at least push till next year, and getting that first rounder was huge. We can put together a pretty nice bundle right now.

 

[Trackjack]

One thing it didn't show was he also can hit the 16ft shoot where Plum couldn't. That means teams will have to honor him out there and should open the lane up for Dame and CJ. He was one of my targets for Blazers to go for in a trade.

 

[Trackjack]

Don't be suprise if thing gel quickly with Nurk that we over take Denver for 8th in the standing.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think there will be another trade. I don't think we're sitting on three picks. I think Olshey is planning on cashing them in with a team like Orlando or Philly.

 

[Haakzilla]

Btw, we also get Nurkic' dad who's a one man police force

...tell us more! What is this all about?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I think there will be another trade. I don't think we're sitting on three picks. I think Olshey is planning on cashing them in with a team like Orlando or Philly.

I could see ORL but Philly has 3 picks already as well I believe.

 

[BonesJones]

So is Mark Mason gonna speak Bosnian now?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I think there will be another trade. I don't think we're sitting on three picks. I think Olshey is planning on cashing them in with a team like Orlando or Philly.