Would you guys take pick #2 2015 nBA draft for Nurkic?

[BRIGGS]

just wanted to know.

[eathb_au]

2 is Mudiay? So probably not since we have Ty at PG.

[skywalker33]

Also would depend on who is trading #2...absolutely not if it is the Knicks, can't help them whatsoever until after 2016 draft.

[The Rebel]

I dont think I would, but I want to see him get more minutes consistently before I made up my mind. In the draft with the 2nd overall pick you want a young guy with the chance to be an multi-time all star if not dominate, and right now I think Nurkic has that chance.

[JerrySloan]

I dont think I would, but I want to see him get more minutes consistently before I made up my mind. In the draft with the 2nd overall pick you want a young guy with the chance to be an multi-time all star if not dominate, and right now I think Nurkic has that chance.

Generally, I'd agree about seeing more of a player.

With Nurkic, however, the last 4 games should tell anyone who watched that there is nothing lacking in either his abilities, his bball IQ or his demeanor and overall controlled aggression and carefree attitude.

If you saw him grabbing a rebound and leading the fast break down the middle last night with a perfect feed to AA on his left, making 3 hook shots - okay one was a goal tend call against Dieng that would almost certainly gone in - and a 15 foot J to go along with the 4 blocks, not to mention the way he played on both ends of the floor against the Bulls Noah, Gasol and Gibson and the Grizz Marc Gasol, what more do you need to see?

[The Rebel]

I dont think I would, but I want to see him get more minutes consistently before I made up my mind. In the draft with the 2nd overall pick you want a young guy with the chance to be an multi-time all star if not dominate, and right now I think Nurkic has that chance.

Generally, I'd agree about seeing more of a player.

With Nurkic, however, the last 4 games should tell anyone who watched that there is nothing lacking in either his abilities, his bball IQ or his demeanor and overall controlled aggression and carefree attitude.

If you saw him grabbing a rebound and leading the fast break down the middle last night with a perfect feed to AA on his left, making 3 hook shots - okay one was a goal tend call against Dieng that would almost certainly gone in - and a 15 foot J to go along with the 4 blocks, not to mention the way he played on both ends of the floor against the Bulls Noah, Gasol and Gibson and the Grizz Marc Gasol, what more do you need to see?

Him do similar stuff over the next month or two.

[tstrick33]

I would do it for the chance that Okafor goes #2. Nurkic reminds me a lot like Pekovic. If he continues to develop he could be a franchise Center. Another reason I'd like to see Shaw continue coaching he seems to have a knack for developing big men or at least getting the best out of them.

[The Rebel]

I'm sorry I do not see the resemblance in game between Nurkic and Pekovic other than they are both from eastern Europe and tall, Nurkic is already a better defender than Pekovic, and has shown more all around talent than Pekovic ever has.

[skywalker33]

Agree to a point, their offensive games show similarity, at least in Pek's early stages of his career

[tstrick33]

They're both big men who shoot well, good touch, same frame, same basic techniques, Nurkic is more athletic and probably a bit better on Defense. We don't have a great sample size from Nurkic though, so being that they both grew up playing a similar role in dominating Euro Leagues, the comparison is only going to be natural, at this point in Nurkic's career.

Feel free to list any player comparisons you see in Nurkic to any other big man in this league.

[skywalker33]

DeMarcus Cousins is the one I hear the most, but I feel Cousins is a bit more athletic

[The Rebel]

They're both big men who shoot well, good touch, same frame, same basic techniques, Nurkic is more athletic and probably a bit better on Defense. We don't have a great sample size from Nurkic though, so being that they both grew up playing a similar role in dominating Euro Leagues, the comparison is only going to be natural, at this point in Nurkic's career.

Feel free to list any player comparisons you see in Nurkic to any other big man in this league.

I see him more similar to a young Marc Gasol. I get the Cousins comparisons as well with the emotions on the court and the offensive skill set but I think Cousins will always be a better offensive player, but Nurkic may already be a better defender.

Think about it this way how many big men have the footwork and speed to stop pick and roll guards? Add to that his ability and size to guard the best big men in the post, and that he already has a competent offensive game for a 20 year old, and I really think he can be special. Pekovic may have a similar offensive skill set but is not as good on defense as Nurkic is already showing to be, plus Nurkic seems to thrive on physicality, and even Wolves fans have admitted to me that Pekovic is a little soft.

I personally want to see what he does as other teams put him in their scouting reports, and how he does against starters on a nightly basis, but so far I am very impressed with this kid.

[tstrick33]

That's fair. Either way, Nurkic is a stat stuffer. Every night he's looking at a double double w/ the potential to get 2+ blocks to go along with that. That's something I never got with Mozgov.

The more double-doubles he gets the more his confidence is going to soar. His development is the only thing we can really look forward to for the rest of the season.

[JerrySloan]

Him do similar stuff over the next month or two.

Again, I understand what you are saying, but what I don't understand, since I assume that you watched the last 4 games, is why you think that those performances could be some kind of fluke.

What he has been doing in those 4 games - 2 against some of the best big men in the league - is displaying all around talent and ability, unlike some rookie SF or SG who has shown a hot shooting hand at least partially because teams have not been accounting for him as for example, teams did not do at the start of the season for Jimmy Butler but now do, without much success.

[The Rebel]

Him do similar stuff over the next month or two.

Again, I understand what you are saying, but what I don't understand, since I assume that you watched the last 4 games, is why you think that those performances could be some kind of fluke.

What he has been doing in those 4 games - 2 against some of the best big men in the league - is displaying all around talent and ability, unlike some rookie SF or SG who has shown a hot shooting hand at least partially because teams have not been accounting for him as for example, teams did not do at the start of the season for Jimmy Butler but now do, without much success.

Because teams will start scouting and game planning against him and than it is up to him to overcome that. As a basically unknown rookie it is easier to take guys by surprise, but to be a top player in the league you have to learn to overcome the doubles, the game planning to try to take away your strengths, that is a the difference between good and great. If he continues as he is going than I think he should be a great player, if he struggles against the changes that teams will make than he will still be a good center but not good enough that I would turn down the 2nd overall pick.

[JerrySloan]

Because teams will start scouting and game planning against him and than it is up to him to overcome that. As a basically unknown rookie it is easier to take guys by surprise, but to be a top player in the league you have to learn to overcome the doubles, the game planning to try to take away your strengths, that is a the difference between good and great. If he continues as he is going than I think he should be a great player, if he struggles against the changes that teams will make than he will still be a good center but not good enough that I would turn down the 2nd overall pick.

Okay, I agree with the bolded part above.

That said, I haven't really been talking about his potential to become an All-Star but more the fact that he is for real and probably has already shown he is a better option as starting center than either Mozgov or McGee.

Even on a losing team as the Nuggets are right now, I doubt that anyone is going to decide that Nurkic is the guy that needs to be doubled a lot at this point.

And, if they do, he has already shown an awareness of and a better ability to make a good pass out of the occasional double team that occurs when he gets the ball in low than Mozgov generally does.

[pickaxe]

I would do it for the chance that Okafor goes #2. Nurkic reminds me a lot like Pekovic. If he continues to develop he could be a franchise Center. Another reason I'd like to see Shaw continue coaching he seems to have a knack for developing big men or at least getting the best out of them.

This being said I believe Nurk to be the best thing that ever happened to Shaw. Nurk does not need to be nurktured as much. He seems to have a sense of autonomy about him.

[eathb_au]

Oddly enough, I think the one that would hold him back is Shaw. Unless he is not physically fit, there should be no reason that he isn't getting 30mpg.

[basketbob]

Oddly enough, I think the one that would hold him back is Shaw. Unless he is not physically fit, there should be no reason that he isn't getting 30mpg.

I've been high on Nurk since i watched a partizan game to see what lauvergne was like and saw this 19 yr old completely turn the game in his team's favor. Having said that, until this week (yes, he seems to have suddenly 'grokked' nba refereeing) the reason he wasn't getting 30 mins a game is that they don't give you 10 fouls.

[basketbob]

...and from a 'message' standpoint, shaw was probably being very careful to reward one of the hardest workers on the team (moz) with PT