While one game isn’t enough to determine winners and losers of a trade, the Suns‘ victory over the Trail Blazers on Tuesday served as a reminder of why Phoenix traded former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton for a handful of role players led by Jusuf Nurkic, writes Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports.
Nurkic, Grayson Allen, and Nassir Little all played key roles in the victory, with Nurkic in particular bouncing back from a slow start to have a big game. The veteran center finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks, and was a plus-17 in 29 minutes.
Ayton, who was a minus-33 in 31 minutes for the Blazers, is getting an opportunity to play more of a starring role in Portland, while Nurkic is happy to take a back seat to his superstar teammates in Phoenix, according to Bourguet, who suggests those roles suit the two big men based on what they hope to accomplish in the near future.
“It’s not like I’m a main player here, man, [like] I’m just gonna take the ball and do whatever I want,” Nurkic said. “I feel like people need to understand I’m here to sacrifice and do all the little stuff that they need for the game and winning basketball.”
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Andscape’s Marc J. Spears shares the second diary installment from Suns guard Bradley Beal, who is currently on the shelf with a back injury and said he shares fans’ frustration that the team’s big three has yet to play together. “We want it to happen more than anybody,” Beal wrote. “So, we’re all working diligently…to make sure that happens. … Before you know it, we’re all going to be clicking. And when this thing is healthy and the train is rolling, we’re going to be steaming away.”
- Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins haven’t looked quite like their usual selves so far this season, but Warriors head coach Steve Kerr referred to the two former All-Stars as “championship players” and indicated that he’s willing to be “really patient” with them, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic. After Wiggins scored a season-high 31 points on Saturday and Thompson put up a season-high 20 on Monday, Kerr suggested that patience is beginning to pay off. “I think you will see a different Wiggs from here on, and I think the same thing’s going to happen with Klay,” he said.
- What has been the key for helping James Harden get comfortable with the Clippers? “Constant communication,” according to Harden and head coach Tyronn Lue, as Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times writes. Lue said his experience with Harden has been one he went through with the Clippers’ other stars too. “(They) all want to have a relationship and constant communication with the head coach and just try to figure out what they see, what the coach sees and how we can put it all together,” Lue said.
Klay got out slowly last year too and ended up leading the league in 3s
Klay got out slowly last year too and ended up leading the league in 3s and Wiggins has always been an enigma
Ok, and all his numbers are worse right now than the slow start he had last year. His first 14 games he averaged 17.7 pt/ 38% 3pt %
Too small of sample size to make any assumptions. In 14 games he’s taken 102 threes and hit 35 of them. If he’d hit on 5 more of them he’d be sitting at .392. He is down on attempts though and that’s more concerning. Hopefully he hasn’t lost confidence, if he takes enough his numbers will come around.
“While one game isn’t enough to determine winners and losers of a trade, the Suns‘ victory over the Trail Blazers on Tuesday served as a reminder of why Phoenix traded former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton for a handful of role players led by Jusuf Nurkic, writes Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports.”
Yeah this sounds like most of the geniuses here. This is how they get fed …..
Ayton does need to step up. I agree. But even when they say you are bad or playing bad. You still put up better numbers than the guy they are comparing you to. It’s not a one game league……
Their per minute and per possession stats are almost identical to this point in the season. Ayton is more efficient, but Nurkic has a jumper and can function as a playmaker, so he has a broader skillset. They’re about equal value at the moment, but Nurkic costs less. Add in the roleplayers too…
And then there’s the fact that nobody in phx liked Ayton or his attitude … the players, the fans , the coach
If y’all didn’t see this when Jock Lawndale was getting standing ovations last year idk what to say
Ayton has the upside. Solid, no doubt, but Nurk is Nurk.
Ayton is a guy just going through the motions. He is a former #1 overall pick averaging 12 points per game on a rebuilding team ravaged by injuries. He had a 5-game stretch where he didn’t even attempt a free throw in 4 of the games. Portland has four games that they lose, and struggle to score, and you can’t throw it in the paint to a #1 overall pick to at least get to the free throw line to break a scoring drought???
Klay needs the early-on struggle. How else will he ultimately appreciate advancing in the playoffs come spring time
“Dear Diary…”
Yeah he led the lead in 3s but was still an absolutely miserable defensive player.
He has such little value with all he provides is some 3 point shooting
Nurk v Ayton. 1 game. PHX has a fully functioning team with Durant and Booker. POR doesn’t.
Except for all that, PHX is deemed the winner here? Seriously lazy analysis.
Scoot is 6’2 and doesn’t have a go-to ability other than ball-distributor. No jumper = No scorer which = No franchise player. If you are a franchise guard, with the ball in your hands, you have to have a jumper, and you have to have the 3-ball.
Might be time to hit up a desperate Bulls team that didn’t have any picks in the 2023 draft, but is now headed for a rebuild.
Maybe have a little chat with Pistons???
Dump Ayton. Dump Scoot.