The Denver Nuggets’ big-man duo of Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic has been very unsuccessful this season, particularly on the defensive end. Jokic is unanimously considered the better player between the two, and the Nuggets have decided to give up on Nurkic, and are looking to move him, reports ESPN’s Marc Stein:
A player who is sure to move between now and the trade deadline?
Denver’s Jusuf Nurkic.
Sources say that the Nuggets, having acknowledged that Nikola Jokic and Nurkic didn’t click as a pairing, are actively working to find Nurkic a new home that would give him the chance he deserves to be a front-line center.
Nurkic is young (23 years old), massive (seven feet tall, 280 pounds), and skilled. This season, playing just 18.7 minutes per game in an overcrowded Nuggets frontcourt, Nurkic has averaged 8.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game on 52.9% shooting from the field.
Nurkic is a talented player, but his abilities are certainly not being utilized in Denver. Jokic is better now and will be better long-term. The two can’t play together. Nurkic won’t be content to ride the bench. Denver’s only real option is trading the young center.
