2023-24 Season Discussion and Speculation 3 - Post Free Agency Discussion

[matt131]

James Jones likes Nurkic's chemistry with our guards.

"Can your big guy be a pressure relief valve? Will he make the right reads, will he roll to the basket and score, will he make the right pass but understand that he's a big and that we need him in the paint and at the rim. We need him to get the rest of our guys open. If we need him to punish the switch, he does it. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE DOESNT COMPLAIN AND HE EMBRACES IT. Our guys respect the heck out of him."

[garrick]

When I read about last trade so I think Jones is licked by everyone GM in this league. For example he can’t trade Jae and after trade Mikal for KD , GM Nets trade Jae in higher price than Jones received.

He should have taken Rui or Allen last season if those deals were available for Crowder but he's generally been extremely risk averse and I have a hard time believing all of that can be blamed on Sarver.

Post finals run JJ never tried to get a decent backup to CP3 and traded Saric for less than half a season for a player who didn't even contribute in the playoffs and we decided was not worth bringing back.

I truly believe that JJ doesn't have much authority to make deals now it's all pretty much Mat Ishbia making the trades now. Maybe he's still here as an advisor now since Josh and Ishbia are still quite new to the NBA.

[Frank Lee]

Vogel, when asked the differences between Ayton and Nurkic: 'Defensive rebounding and offensive passing ability." Sounds like they just wanted a veteran at that position who had basketball sense and would do his job.

Mentioned how important defensive rebounding is to end defensive possessions and to get us out on the fast break

Looking forward to the first outlet pass by a Suns center in five years…

[Calvin Klein]

James Jones likes Nurkic's chemistry with our guards.

"Can your big guy be a pressure relief valve? Will he make the right reads, will he roll to the basket and score, will he make the right pass but understand that he's a big and that we need him in the paint and at the rim. We need him to get the rest of our guys open. If we need him to punish the switch, he does it. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE DOESNT COMPLAIN AND HE EMBRACES IT. Our guys respect the heck out of him."

I would bold every single sentence in that quote. Specially "understand that he's a big and that we need him in the paint and at the rim".


Only blind Ayton stans don't undestand what was going on.

[Mulhollanddrive]

I think they're still watching the Bahamas games saying he's in for a big season.

How many of our players love a fight - Booker, Durant, Bates-Diop, Nurkic, Goodwin, Allen, Eubanks, Metu we're going to be a fun team that always competes hard and most importantly won't give up in elimination games.

[bwgood77]

I came across a few things regarding Nurkic:

Other than health, Nurk's biggest issue is that he simply throws up weaks shots around the rim; wild shots that have no chance of being converted. Dumb shots that often ignite transition for the opposing team. He's impatient and that's inexcusable for a guy his size who is a 9 year veteran

Compare Nurkic's at-the rim conversion rate, last year/career to other bigs:

Wendall Carter Jr .850/.739
DeAndre Jordan .837/.728
Evan Mobley .817/.792
Embiid .810/.744
Ayon .806/.772
KAT .791/.710
AD .788/.741
Jokic .783/.717
Mitchell Robinson .781/.743
B. Lopez .771/.676
Jarrett Allen .764/.752
Sabonis .762/.716
Poeltl .761/.724
Gobert .748/.741
Porzingis .740/.693
Looney .734/.715
Capela .728/.710
Valanciunas .727/.684
Adebayo .714/.730
Zubac .702/.689

Nurkic .645/.611

It's not that he's just about the worst at it among big's right now, but that's he almost historically bad for a guy his size.

He's also fallen way off as a rim protector. He still plays solid defense in the paint (when he's motivated), but he can't alter shots like he used to and my hunch is that his accumulated injuries have left him more floor-bound.

[Dzon Dilindzer]

Both have the lazy unmotivated rep, but a change of scenery probably helps both. The main thing for Nurk is finishing inside, which I know will frustrate people here if they got frustrated with Ayton, given Nurk does a lot more soft lay ins, and turns it over more than Ayton.

But Nurk was very good before his injury and improved a bit last year to his terrible defensive year the year before. And with the weight loss he should be good. His passing will be nice too. I see some analysts saying he won't be happy being the 5th option and his usage has never been less than 22% (about the same as Ayton) so hopefully he is ok with fewer touches. We will likely stagger our guys some and probably have some injuries anyway.

nurk hates iso game (said it a lot during his tenure in pdx), he wants team to share the ball, pretty much european style of bball, so hell be happy as a role player, as long as the team is not iso heavy dependant and he dont care about numbers (ppg, rpg etc)

[bwgood77]

Both have the lazy unmotivated rep, but a change of scenery probably helps both. The main thing for Nurk is finishing inside, which I know will frustrate people here if they got frustrated with Ayton, given Nurk does a lot more soft lay ins, and turns it over more than Ayton.

But Nurk was very good before his injury and improved a bit last year to his terrible defensive year the year before. And with the weight loss he should be good. His passing will be nice too. I see some analysts saying he won't be happy being the 5th option and his usage has never been less than 22% (about the same as Ayton) so hopefully he is ok with fewer touches. We will likely stagger our guys some and probably have some injuries anyway.

nurk hates iso game (said it a lot during his tenure in pdx), he wants team to share the ball, pretty much european style of bball, so hell be happy as a role player, as long as the team is not iso heavy dependant and he dont care about numbers (ppg, rpg etc)

The team is very iso heavy.

[Dzon Dilindzer]

Both have the lazy unmotivated rep, but a change of scenery probably helps both. The main thing for Nurk is finishing inside, which I know will frustrate people here if they got frustrated with Ayton, given Nurk does a lot more soft lay ins, and turns it over more than Ayton.

But Nurk was very good before his injury and improved a bit last year to his terrible defensive year the year before. And with the weight loss he should be good. His passing will be nice too. I see some analysts saying he won't be happy being the 5th option and his usage has never been less than 22% (about the same as Ayton) so hopefully he is ok with fewer touches. We will likely stagger our guys some and probably have some injuries anyway.

nurk hates iso game (said it a lot during his tenure in pdx), he wants team to share the ball, pretty much european style of bball, so hell be happy as a role player, as long as the team is not iso heavy dependant and he dont care about numbers (ppg, rpg etc)

The team is very iso heavy.

that could be a problem, but, maybe being on a contender changes that

well see, you can expect anything from nurk, good or bad

[bwgood77]

well see, you can expect anything from nurk, good or bad

Kind of sounds like Ayton last year. Of course half our team was injured for months (and most of starters and 2nd stringers) which made things tougher with communication and chemistry.

Hopefully Nurk can cut down on the turnovers and improve his finishing at the rim. Maybe he will dunk more now that he is slimmer. People complained about Ayton finishing at the rim, or putting up soft stuff on occasion, but I know Nurkic is much worse in that regard.

[phx#7]

Both have the lazy unmotivated rep, but a change of scenery probably helps both. The main thing for Nurk is finishing inside, which I know will frustrate people here if they got frustrated with Ayton, given Nurk does a lot more soft lay ins, and turns it over more than Ayton.

But Nurk was very good before his injury and improved a bit last year to his terrible defensive year the year before. And with the weight loss he should be good. His passing will be nice too. I see some analysts saying he won't be happy being the 5th option and his usage has never been less than 22% (about the same as Ayton) so hopefully he is ok with fewer touches. We will likely stagger our guys some and probably have some injuries anyway.

nurk hates iso game (said it a lot during his tenure in pdx), he wants team to share the ball, pretty much european style of bball, so hell be happy as a role player, as long as the team is not iso heavy dependant and he dont care about numbers (ppg, rpg etc)

The team is very iso heavy.

They have a lot of iso talent but I don't think we'll know how iso heavy the team is until we see them together. The offense they used under Monty did have a lot of movement but collapsed in the postseason when no one was able to consistently contribute and KD/Book had to go hero mode.

[bwgood77]

nurk hates iso game (said it a lot during his tenure in pdx), he wants team to share the ball, pretty much european style of bball, so hell be happy as a role player, as long as the team is not iso heavy dependant and he dont care about numbers (ppg, rpg etc)

The team is very iso heavy.

They have a lot of iso talent but I don't think we'll know how iso heavy the team is until we see them together. The offense they used under Monty did have a lot of movement but collapsed in the postseason when no one was able to consistently contribute and KD/Book had to go hero mode.

Yeah, hopefully they move the ball well. I'd love to see it. They are all pretty good passers, so there is no reason they shouldn't, but it often seemed iso heavy in the past and Beal and KD are that way too.

[Dzon Dilindzer]

well see, you can expect anything from nurk, good or bad

Kind of sounds like Ayton last year. Of course half our team was injured for months (and most of starters and 2nd stringers) which made things tougher with communication and chemistry.

Hopefully Nurk can cut down on the turnovers and improve his finishing at the rim. Maybe he will dunk more now that he is slimmer. People complained about Ayton finishing at the rim, or putting up soft stuff on occasion, but I know Nurkic is much worse in that regard.

he definitely hates iso bball, but it sounds like he embraced the role (defend, rebound, set screens, pass the ball, score when have the opportunity), but im not sure he can get back the step he lost (he was on his way to becoming an all-star caliber player pre-leg break, really a joy to watch and always able to fill the stat sheet, post big numbers, but impactful player, not like those who post up big empty numbers, he was even considered to be our second best player and then the leg break happened)

nowadays, nurk struggles to defend the rim, quickness is just not there anymore, but now that he slimmed down, maybe is able to recover some quickness, well see i guess...

[SlovenianDragon]

nurk hates iso game (said it a lot during his tenure in pdx), he wants team to share the ball, pretty much european style of bball, so hell be happy as a role player, as long as the team is not iso heavy dependant and he dont care about numbers (ppg, rpg etc)

The team is very iso heavy.

They have a lot of iso talent but I don't think we'll know how iso heavy the team is until we see them together. The offense they used under Monty did have a lot of movement but collapsed in the postseason when no one was able to consistently contribute and KD/Book had to go hero mode.

Yeah just because we have good iso players doesnt mean we will play iso ball... Its up to the coaching staff to put in a good system. I guarantee you they are working on a system and not going to leave it up to just iso plays...

[sunsbum]

Listening to James Jones talk about anything is like nails on a chalkboard.

[Showdown]

Pick n roll should be utilized enough to be important weapon on offense both by Booker and Beal.

[Slim Charless]

I'm surprised Simmons was so negative on it. Only really need to listen to the first 4 minutes or so.

Watch on YouTube

Simmons is 100% right about everything he says about this trade. It will be a slow burn, but everyone here will eventually be on my vantage point about Mr. Nurkic.

Nurk isn't on Ayton's level and we should've just held out and seen if Vogel could've gotten more out of him. I think this crappy trade for Nurk would've still been available at the trade deadline.

If PDX/MIL/BOS demanded this go through now then cool, give us Timelord or Brogdon.

[Slim Charless]

James Jones likes Nurkic's chemistry with our guards.

"Can your big guy be a pressure relief valve? Will he make the right reads, will he roll to the basket and score, will he make the right pass but understand that he's a big and that we need him in the paint and at the rim. We need him to get the rest of our guys open. If we need him to punish the switch, he does it. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE DOESNT COMPLAIN AND HE EMBRACES IT. Our guys respect the heck out of him."

I would bold every single sentence in that quote. Specially "understand that he's a big and that we need him in the paint and at the rim".


Only blind Ayton stans don't undestand what was going on.

Amazing that ppl on here can speak with such confidence, when it's plainly obvious that they no idea what they're talking about.

You have no idea what you're talking about.


Go ask PDX fans about Nurk. They will tell you that he goes up soft and as their offense has expanded, he has gotten more whiney about his touches. They'll also say that for his size he doesn't always play like he's a 7 footer.


Gee, who does that remind you of? Only difference is the vast athletic ability of Ayton. Along with his age and durability.

[SlovenianDragon]

I'm surprised Simmons was so negative on it. Only really need to listen to the first 4 minutes or so.

Watch on YouTube

Simmons is 100% right about everything he says about this trade. It will be a slow burn, but everyone here will eventually be on my vantage point about Mr. Nurkic.

Nurk isn't on Ayton's level and we should've just held out and seen if Vogel could've gotten more out of him. I think this crappy trade for Nurk would've still been available at the trade deadline.

If PDX/MIL/BOS demanded this go through now then cool, give us Timelord or Brogdon.

I think the bigger part was to just cut off the cancer... Its not about Ayton vs Nurk... Its about competing for a ring and not having this cloud around the suns all season.. We have a fresh start and not having the drama around ayton following us around... The team can focus on basketball not if or when or should we trade ayton.

[Book1Nation]

I'm surprised Simmons was so negative on it. Only really need to listen to the first 4 minutes or so.

Watch on YouTube

Simmons is 100% right about everything he says about this trade. It will be a slow burn, but everyone here will eventually be on my vantage point about Mr. Nurkic.

Nurk isn't on Ayton's level and we should've just held out and seen if Vogel could've gotten more out of him. I think this crappy trade for Nurk would've still been available at the trade deadline.

If PDX/MIL/BOS demanded this go through now then cool, give us Timelord or Brogdon.

Jock Landale was more impactful than Ayton in the playoffs.

There were times last season Bismack Biyombo was better than Ayton.

Javale McGee 1000% did more with his minutes than DA in 2021/22.

I haven't lost 2 seconds of sleep since the trade because even if Nurkic sucks, at least we don't have a $32 million albatross on the roster. And I'm sure as the leader of the DA fanclub you have seen how happy he is in Portland. Good for him. Hope he enjoys the extra touches and piles of L's headed his way.