Fansided

20 things to look forward to this NBA offseason

By Bryan Toporek

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Arizona forward Deandre Ayton (13) reacts to a call during the championship game of the mens Pac-12 Tournament between the USC Trojans and the Arizona Wildcats on March 10, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Arizona forward Deandre Ayton (13) reacts to a call during the championship game of the mens Pac-12 Tournament between the USC Trojans and the Arizona Wildcats on March 10, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – APRIL 21: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers is defended by Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans during Game Four of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs at the Smoothie King Center on April 21, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers 131-123 to sweep the series 4-0. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – APRIL 21: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers is defended by Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans during Game Four of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs at the Smoothie King Center on April 21, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers 131-123 to sweep the series 4-0. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

17. Can the Trail Blazers afford to retain Jusuf Nurkic?

To describe the Portland Trail Blazers’ salary-cap situation as a crime scene would be charitable.

Without factoring in their incumbent free agents or the nonguaranteed contracts of Jake Layman, Wade Baldwin and Georgios Papagiannis, the Blazers already have nearly $110.5 million in guaranteed salary on their books for next season. The luxury-tax threshold is projected to be $123 million, which leaves Portland with roughly $12.5 million in spending room before pushing into tax territory.

With Ed Davis heading for unrestricted free agency and Shabazz Napier and Pat Connaugton set to become restricted free agents, it may be too costly for the Trail Blazers to retain fellow RFA Jusuf Nurkic.

The Bosnian Bear was a revelation for the Blazers upon his arrival in Portland at the 2017 trade deadline, but his production declined across the board this past season. Nurkic averaged more turnovers per game (2.3) than assists (1.8) in 2017-18, and he has yet to hit a single 3-pointer throughout his four-year career.

The Blazers outscored opponents by 2.5 points per 100 possessions with Nurkic on the floor this past season, but it’s fair to wonder whether they’d be better off retaining Davis or turning over the starting center gig to 2017 No. 10 overall pick Zach Collins. But depending on how the free-agent market shakes out, they may not have to make that choice quite yet.

ESPN.com’s Zach Lowe recently suggested (via Sagar Trika of Blazer’s Edge) that Nurkic may wind up taking the qualifying offer this summer since “nobody needs centers and there’s no cap room.” Given the dismal market for centers, the Blazers would be wise to make Nurkic seek out a hefty offer sheet before offering him a big-money deal.

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