Jusuf Nurkic, meanwhile, has performed well enough in Utah that he’s also expected to generate some interest from rival teams…
Since Walker Kessler went down for the season, Nurkic has performed well. His ability to rebound, pass the ball, and shoot well enough to keep the defense honest has made him a serviceable big man for the Jazz.
If the Jazz trade Nurkic, they will be left without any true center on the roster. They likely look for some sort of center in return if they make a move just to make sure their young players can continue to develop.
Also important to consider is that Nurkic makes about $19M of expiring money. That expiring money could be valuable to teams looking to get off some of their salary. That amount of money can work with a wide range of trade offers, making him an even more interesting target.
We’ll see if the Jazz do make a move. They need to start thinking about solidifying their pick, and it would be better to do that sooner rather than later. Utah is not going anywhere this season and can’t afford to lose their pick (top-8 protected) to the Oklahoma City Thunder. They need more young talent to put around Ace Bailey, Keyonte George, and Lauri Markkanen (if they keep him).