Since raving about the Jazz organization last month, Jusuf Nurkic has been in and out of the team’s lineup, missing time due to a toe injury and then receiving his first three DNP-CDs of the season last week. That hasn’t diminished the big man’s enthusiasm for his current situation, according to Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune.
Nurkic – who is on an expiring $19.4MM contract – has been the subject of some trade speculation leading up to the February 5 deadline. However, he expressed a desire to remain in Utah, referring to himself with a smile as a “Jazz for life,” as Larsen relays.
“I mean, I obviously love being here. It’s been a great experience so far, and hopefully we continue the journey for a long time. But you can’t really control a lot of things,” Nurkic said. “It’s not probably bad or wrong or good to be in the trade rumors, it’s something in between. But if it’s up to me, I’m not leaving, so, (I want to) finish the season with the Jazz.”
According to Larsen, Nurkic is highly regarded in Utah, with the club’s brain trust pointing out that he leads the NBA in screen assists and has been a good fit on a young Jazz roster. That doesn’t mean the 31-year-old won’t be moved, but if the Jazz do trade him, Larsen can envision a scenario in which he returns as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason and backs up center Walker Kessler in 2026/27.
We have more from around the Northwest:
- Sixth-year forward Deni Avdija has emerged as an impact player for the Trail Blazers, averaging career highs in points (26.2) and assists (6.9) per game so far this season. Avdija’s star turn has made his current four-year, $55MM contract (he’s in year two) one of the most team-friendly deals in the NBA, but he has no regrets about signing that extension, per Jason Quick of The Athletic. “It gave me a lot of calmness, because I know I’m secure,” Avdija said. “That was my goal. I told my agent, and he was like, ‘I think you should sign for less years,’ but I was like, ‘If I outplay my contract, I outplay my contract. We will deal with that later.’ I’m not going to worry about $10 million more or $20 million less. This is what I got, and I’m going to say thank you and not take it for granted. It’s still a lot of money.”
- Scoot Henderson has yet to play this season due to a torn left hamstring, and while his return isn’t imminent, the Trail Blazers guard was spotted on Tuesday running full-court sprints after practice, according to Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. “He is progressing,” interim head coach Tiago Splitter said. “He’s getting better. I understand. Everybody’s a little bit frustrated about this, but it’s a tough injury. It’s (one) where people tend to have a second injury, so we’ve got to be careful with him. He’s a big part of our franchise. We’ve got to protect him. And I think we’re doing the right thing and he’s feeling better day by day.”
- Nuggets head coach David Adelman provided updates on his two injured centers on Tuesday, according to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post (subscription required). Adelman referred to Jokic’s recovery from a hyperextended left knee as “kind of up and down,” indicating that Jonas Valanciunas (right calf strain) will likely return before Jokic does.
“’He is progressing,’ head coach Tiago Splitter said.”
Splitter is still interim while Chauncey Billups is in NBA purgatory. Hopefully that gambling mess gets resolved sometime before the end of the season.
Pretty sure the odds of Billups ever coaching another game for the Blazers are are near zero, but I guess I should add the “interim.”
Good on Nurk for having such a big year, that triple double against the Wolves was dominant. Really didn’t think he had it in him but it looks like Utah suits him, thought the Jazz would be playing Filipowski ahead of him each game by now.
Wouldn’t be the worst idea to keep him around and wait and see how Kessler comes back from such a serious injury.
I think the thing is to see if what you could get for him and then bring him back at the end of the year on the team friendly deal. If there isn’t a pretty good offer, keep him on the team. He’s developed those young Jazz players really well. He’s not a starting center, so even if you trade out Kessler you’re going to need a starting center somewhere and that’s your backup. But yes I’m with you. I probably kind of would keep him
Playing so good I wonder if thats the deep tank angle for Utah this year
Trade him (play Center-less like Wiz adn Cha have done in the past to lose more games)
They can bring him back next summer as I think they will get very active with a lot of cash in hand to play with
Have loved Will Hardy for awhile now (Put him in top 10 2 years ago) and I really think the arrows are moving UP UP with Utah but man they gotta lose some more games here in the next 38
Not so Hot Take- Utah is in the play in next year and possibly the top bracket of it and finish with 43~46 wins
When Nurkic is fully engaged he’s one of the best at pick and roll, setting screens, and simply playing Euro-smart-big man basketball. I was on vacation in Ljubljana in 2013 and attended a few EuroBasket games as a lark. I don’t think Nurkic was there, but he passes the ball like he was. The fundamentals … the beauty of that level of fundamental basketball was .. hmmm … amazing.
You see what Deni Just said this is where more players need to be at. If you’re offered $70 to $90 million, take it. Stop trying to hold out for $120 $150 because somebody else got it. If you have the love of the game and play hard you will get paid but basketball isn’t all about money. Nor is any passion in life. When you follow your passion in life, money will always follow it. These are the type of players that are great examples for young kids and young men.
In part it’s where he’s playing. Small market teams like Portland need to offer a sense of community and that a player is valued at least somewhat for who he is. Avdija has it right, Lillard got it right. Measuring success is just like BUYING BUCKETS implies. The guys that are easy to get behind at least see some of the big picture as being “passion” for what you’re doing and already being monumentally rich at a paltry 70M.
I agree completely with you, but we’ve also seen big market people do that. And I do understand the balance of going after your money. The problem is is money corrupts you and is the root of all evil. So when you’re being offered $70 to $90 million and you got guys saying no. I need $150 $200. You got to be realistic. Even some Superstars I think Paul Pierce just said it and they were giving him flack. There’s really only three Max NBA players. Usually in an era. I’m talking about supermax. Right now that’s shi, joker and possibly wimby when he gets there. Anybody else is pretty much not going to win with supermax because they can’t carry a team. So do you want to win or a couple extra million dollars. I think this guy has a great approach and he’s letting his game talk and he will get paid. That’s the thing you will make the money when you win endorseman’s come commercials comes. There’s more money than the legacy than there is being a W-2 employee.
And I say that for ordinary regular people do on regular jobs, it’s no different if you run around chasing two to $3,000 here or $5,000 here, but you have a legacy at a job that you can create as and he gives you more time. It gives you ability to work from home. You can work on a side hustle or a business or real estate or something else that’s worth more money than being a W-2 employee. Not saying to take more money But not every dollar is a good dollar
Carmelo Anthony comes to my mind when I think this had. He took him a little less money than New York. Knicks could have been better but he wanted all the money he could get and he left without a championship. Wanted to leave Denver for the big market when he was winning and never won anything ever again. Wind up having more children breaking up his marriage. Sometimes man the money’s just not worth it. Okay sorry I’m off the soapbox
Honestly, what the Clippers did with Kawhi is the smart move if you’re a player who wants to take less money than you deserve in order to be able to compete for a championship, but you gotta do it with crypto currency instead of fake companies under your own name.
The bottom line is that the league can’t really force teams to not pay more to get better players. I like the theory ofwhat they’re doing with the second apron penalties, but teams will just pay players under the table and keep themselves safe from those penalties.
Not comparing them. Or saying Kuminga will do the same. Deni wasn’t jerked around like JK. And if you look at his game at 23 yrs old. Last yr with Washington. And look at his game today in Portland at 25 yrs old. And its like night and day.
Very similar to JK. Only he needed and got 30 mins.
I hope Warriors now play JK 30 mins till end of year.
Billups will not be convicted. DOJ is an absolute joke right now. They can’t even field proper lawyers who are properly appointed.