Jusuf Nurkic needs to shape up or Nuggets need to ship him out

The Denver Nuggets have marketed this season as a New Day and one thing is absolutely clear — Michael Malone is the boss.

Last season the 16th overall pick out of Bosnia impressed the team’s front office so much that they parted with their starting center for him. Timofey Mozgov went on to have an impressive season with the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers, while Jusuf Nurkic cemented himself as the Nuggets’ top prospect with his impressive rookie campaign. 

Fast forward a season and suddenly Nurkic is racking up minutes on the bench as the team’s third string center — behind a 21 year-old Serbian and a 24 year-old Frenchmen. The NBA waits for nobody.

So, what gives?

“He’s frustrated right now and understandably so,” said Malone. “I think he’s frustrated, probably, with his knee. Anybody that’s not 100 percent, I’m sure that has to be frustrating for him. And then obviously, probably the playing time I’m sure drives him crazy.”

Nurkic, just 21 years-old himself, underwent major surgery back in May of 2015 to repair a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee, and has been on the road to recovery ever since.

“That Detroit game, right before the break, he played great. We don’t win that game without him,” said Malone. “But trying to get a consistent Nurk — who is healthy, in shape and out there helping us on a nightly basis — has been a challenge for a number of reasons.”

Nurkic has proven to be an extremely effective player when he’s on the floor; perhaps a guy you can build a team around. He’s a force on the boards, can score in the post on a variety of moves, protects the rim and is the team’s most effective screener with his massive 7-foot, 280 pound frame. Of Denver’s three centers, he has the second-best net rating and it’s not really close between he and Lauvergne, as illustrated below.

But Lauvergne has been improving — in February he posted a positive net rating of +0.9 while appearing in 12 games and averaging 15.5 minutes per game. And perhaps most importantly, Joffrey is earning Malone’s trust late in games as he played in nine fourth quarters in Feb. and averaged 6.9 minutes in the final quarter — compare that to Jokic’s eight fourth quarter appearances and 4.2 minutes.

“The one thing that I can say about Joffrey is, it’s never a case of lack of effort,” said Malone. “Right now he knows he’s playing. He’s playing the backup center minutes.” 

Hard work pays off in the NBA, and Lauvergne is taking advantage. Again, the NBA waits for nobody.

“There is a chance that (Nurkic) could have played (against the Grizzlies),” said Malone. “but he wasn’t able to because his knee was acting up.”

Nurkic has not appeared on the team’s official injury report, but Malone has referenced a balky knee against both the Grizzlies and after the Kings game on Feb. 23rd. He has recorded four straight DNP-CD’s, but he has been practicing. He practiced yesterday following the Grizzlies game and apparently had one of his better practices ahead of the Grizzlies game, too.

Malone said Nurkic is a full participant in practice & had one of his better ones today.

— Harrison Wind (@NBAWind) February 28, 2016

Perhaps Coach is trying to protect his big man, but offering up injuries is a concern as Nurkic hasn’t been on the injury report — one that includes new names in Kenneth Faried (low back, questionable) and Emmanuel Mudiay (left calf tightness, probable) ahead of tonight’s Lakers game.

“It’s so hard to play nine, 10, 11 guys. So, you kind of come up with a rotation, and try to give them a chance to play,” said Malone. “I don’t want to change lineups and change groups every game because then nobody has a rhythm. A lot of it for me is really predicated on who is able to practice and who is healthy.”

Nurkic is not in Malone’s rotation right now. Malone has stated that experience is the best teacher, and he has been relying on young guys all season. Emmanuel Mudiay, Gary Harris, Will Barton, Lauvergne and Jokic have all experienced tremendous growth this season and are earning valuable minutes. The same cannot be said for Nurkic.

“He’s competitive. He has a lot of pride,” said Malone. “I have no problems with Nurk and his mindset and his attitude because I know deep down he is a team guy, and he wants to do whatever he can to help. And I understand his frustration, I really do.

“I think, whether it’s the end of this season, this summer or next season, from what I’ve seen from him — in maybe glimpses — he has a chance to be a very impactful player. That size, that skill level, that touch, his willingness to be physical — not a lot of guys have that. So, it’s just a matter of being patient and bringing out the best in him.” 

Malone doesn’t appear to be a hurry to get Nurkic back on the court, and it’s a positive sign that the front office doesn’t seem to be mandating that Malone play him. In a season that is about finding guys that hate to lose more than they like to win, the front office will be faced will a plethora of decisions in the offseason. If the Nuggets view Jokic as their center of the future, Nurkic could potentially bring back a hefty bounty in a trade.

Add Nurkic to the list of questions the front office must answer this summer, to keep paving the way for a New Day.