Nuggets shipping Jusuf Nurkic to Portland for Mason Plumlee

DENVER — The Nuggets are trading center Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 first round pick to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Mason Plumlee and a 2018 second-round pick and cash, according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Plumlee, 26, is averaging 11.1 points and 8.0 rebounds in 54 games as Portland’s starting center this season. The 6-foot-11 big man will shift into a backup role in Denver. Plumlee is on the last year of his rookie contract worth $2.3 million and is set to be a restricted free agent this summer.

Nurkic. 22, is averaging 8.0 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Nuggets this season. Since beginning the year as Denver’s starting center, Nurkic grew frustrated in a backup role and has been phased out of the rotation at times this season. Nurkic has played sporadically for the Nuggets as of late, playing 11 minutes in Denver’s win over the Knicks Friday but recording a DNP-CD in Cleveland Saturday with the Nuggets on a back-to-back.

Plumlee is a skilled passing big man that can bring a facilitating mentality to Denver’s second unit. Plumlee had a 12-assist game against Detroit in January and multiple high assist totals since.

The Nuggets will send their 2017 first-round pick (via Memphis) to Portland to complete the trade.

Analysis

For Denver, this trade instantly reminds you of the 2015 deal where the Nuggets sent JaVale McGee and a first-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for the rights to Cenk Akyol, who was ironically shipped to Atlanta in exchange for Mo Williams this January.

Nurkic has been unhappy in his role as a backup center for some time, making those feelings known at practice in late January. An eye-opening preseason after a lost 2015 campaign where Nurkic only appeared in 32 games, led Nurkic into Denver’s starting lineup where initially he flourished alongside Nikola Jokic.

The 22-year-old recorded at least ten points and nine rebounds in four of the Nuggets’ first five games this season, but it became apparent that his production was coming at the cost of Jokic’s confidence, who didn’t look like himself over the first part of the regular season. After a 2-4 road trip in mid-December, coach Michael Malone replaced Nurkic in the starting lineup with Jokic. Denver is 15-14 since the change and sports the league’s second-best offense but worst defense over that span.

Since Dec. 15, Nurkic’s role has fluctuated. At times, Nurkic has looked capable of being one of the best reserve big men in the league, providing a defensive punch to the Nugget’s second unit, while also looking disinterested and detached throughout this recent stretch as well. As of late, Nurkic has been in and out of Denver’s rotation. A DNP-CD against Atlanta, then 11 minutes in a win over the Knicks but again zero minutes in the Nuggets’ most recent defeat in Cleveland.

Like McGee in 2015, Nurkic was a sunk cost for Denver. Nurkic is still young and comes with potential but was someone who’s become a distraction in Denver with his attitude. The Nuggets had to get what they could for Nurkic, and Plumlee is a solid return.

In Plumlee, the Nuggets get a big man who can step in at center with their second unit and elevate that group’s play higher than Nurkic ever could this season. Plumlee is averaging 4.0 assist per game, assisting on 19.8 of Portland’s field goals this year, both the fifth-highest marks among centers this season.

At times this season, the Nuggets have looked like a different team with Jokic off the floor. The Nuggets’ second unit, without Jokic’s guidance, tends to get caught standing around on offense and has had trouble playing the free-flowing style that’s given them so much success this season. Denver can run their bench offense through Plumlee, much like they do with Jokic on the floor, and the 2014 FIBA gold medalist should be able to keep Denver’s free-flowing attack moving when he plays.

Plumlee is in the final year of his rookie contract and will be a restricted free agent this summer. The Nuggets have more than enough cap room to re-sign him if they so choose and will be able to match any offer another team throws Plumlee’s way.

The first-round pick the Nuggets are sending to Portland is Memphis’ selection meaning it will likely be in the 20’s this summer. Denver gets a second-round pick in 2018 back from Portland. The Nuggets still hold their own first round selection this summer.

The Nuggets currently hold a one game lead over Portland for the eighth seed in the West.