NBA Rumors: Jusif Nurkic will play for Denver Nuggets this season
By Sam Richmond
It looks like Jusuf Nurkic will be playing with the Denver Nuggets this season after all. According to David Pick of Euro Basket, Nurkic has opted out of his contract with his Croatian team and is ready to come to the NBA.
Jusuf Nurkic has opted-out of contract with Croatian club to join Denver. Buyout spread over two-seasons, I'm told.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) July 10, 2014
Nuggets filed $650k to Croatian club Cedevita to buyout draftee Jusuf Nurkic. He added $135k. Original linkage: https://t.co/Kh7M93a0hJ
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) July 10, 2014
The Nuggets acquired Nurkic in the 2014 NBA Draft after they traded the No. 11 pick to the Chicago Bulls for No. 16 and No. 19, which is where Nurkic was selected.
Nurkic averaged 11.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in just 16.6 minutes per game in the Adriatic League last year. He’s a strong and physical player, who has great upside with an improving offense game.
It is interesting to think about where Nurkic would fit in Denver’s rotation, as the team already possesses two capable centers in JaVale McGee and Timofey Mosgov.
Mosgov is fresh off a fine season with the Nuggets in which he averaged 9.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. And while McGee was hurt for much of last season, he’s just a year removed from averaging 9.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
It might be difficult for the 19-year-old Nurkic to supplant them in the rotation.
Still, with the Nuggets unlikely to be serious contenders next season, allocating some minutes to Nurkic in the hopes that he develops sooner than later makes sense.
Draft Express ranked Nurkic as the No. 6 best prospect in the draft.