NBA Rumors: Jusuf Nurkic unlikely to play for Denver Nuggets next season
By Sam Richmond
Denver Nuggets draft pick Jusuf Nurkic is not expected to play in the NBA next season, according to David Pick of Eurobasket.com
Nuggets draft pickup Jusuf Nurkic unlikely to join Denver next season, I'm told. Problem is Croatian club buyout, exceeds €1M.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) July 3, 2014
As Pro Basketball Talk’s Dan Feldman notes, Nurkic is slated to make more money overseas than he would with Denver in 2014-15.
"The Nuggets can contribute $600,000 for Nurkic’s buyout without it counting against team salary. Denver, if it structured Nurkic’s contract properly, could also immediately kick in another $2,661,360.However that additional money would come out of Nurkic’s contract during the next two seasons. You can see why he might rather remain overseas than take a pay cut to join the NBA sooner."
This decision isn’t especially shocking, given Sportnado reported Wednesday that Nurkic playing in the NBA next season was contingent on him playing him in the league’s Summer League.
The report states:
"According to Bosnian Basketball Federation secretary Denver Nuggets offered to Jusuf Nurkic a contract but only if he plays NBA Summer League.Jusuf Nurkic declined to play NBA Summer League because he wants to play for National Teams, U20 and A team."
Nurkic is regarded as one of the higher-upside players from the 2014 draft. He averaged 11.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in just 16.6 minutes per game in the Adriatic League last year and Draft Express ranked him as the No. 6 best prospect in the draft. He projects to be a physical player and an offensive asset at the next level.
Denver acquired Nurkic with the No. 16 pick after a trade with the Chicago Bulls that also netted them the No. 19 selection.