By Jordan Long
The Denver Nuggets made a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers this weekend. Portland sent center Mason Plumlee, a 2019 second-round pick and cash to Denver in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 first-round draft pick. What kind of deal is this?
Nurkic appeared in 45 games for the Nuggets at center, starting in 29 of them. His average minutes per game was 17.9. In those minutes he was effective because he could play defense and score points. On offense Nurkic averages 8 points and 1.3 assists per game. On the defensive end he could block shots and rebound, averaging .8 blocks and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Nurkic was losing playing time due to the emergence of Nikola Jokic. Jokic has become a star this season averaging 16.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. The Nuggets were looking to deal Nurkic.
Portland was willing to let Mason Plumlee go because he will be a restricted free agent at the end of the year. Plumlee is a better scorer down low than Nurkic. He averages 11.1 points per game. On the glass Plumlee boxes opponents out for the rebounds, averaging 8 rebounds per game. His size at 6 foot 11 inches makes it difficult for the opposing squad to score buckets. Plumlee can block shots with 1.2 blocks per game.
The Nuggets are hoping they have gotten better at the defensive end with this trade. Plumlee will be coming off the bench when Nurkic needs a rest. For the Nuggets this seems like a decent trade on paper. It is up to Plumlee to show he can be the same player in Denver that he was in Portland. The Nuggets hope Plumlee is the answer for them to make the playoffs and win a first-round series.
What do you think of the Nuggets trading for Mason Plumlee?
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