Jusuf Nurkic (Photo : Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
The 2017 NBA trade deadline is less than two weeks away but the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a deal. It's not the biggest NBA trade but it's a big deal for both teams since it helps their cases of making the playoffs.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Blazers have traded power forward Mason Plumlee and their 2018 second-round pick to Denver in exchange for a 2017 first-round pick and center Jusuf Nurkic. The 2017 first-round pick was owned by the Memphis Grizzlies so it's going to be a mid-first round selection.
The NBA trade made sense for both the Nuggets and Blazers, per CBS Sports. The Nuggets clearly knew that Nurkic is not working well with Nikola Jokic, who is putting up great numbers this season. Denver is currently eighth in the West and Plumlee is a better fit to Jokic.
The Duke product is currently averaging 11.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game this season, which are career highs. However, he's not going to start in Denver but he'll provide energy, rebounding, screens and passing for his size off the bench.
On the other hand, the Blazers made the trade because they need to improve their 27th ranked defensive rating. Nurkic is a good defensive big man with size and potential. He is also on a controllable contract for a couple of years. Plumlee is going to be a free agent and he's looking for a big deal.
The Blazers have already handed big contracts to Evan Turner, Maurice Harkless, Myles Leonard and Allen Crabbe this offseason. However, nothing has gone Portland's way this season and they are in danger of missing the playoffs.
Nurkic fills the role of Festus Ezeli, who has not played a single game this season due to a knee injury. The 22-year-old Bosnian big man is averaging 8.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists this season. He had some attitude problems in Denver but it was because of his lack of playing time.
The Blazers are just a game behind the Nuggets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. This deal could make or break either team down the stretch. Nevertheless, expect more NBA trades in the coming days with the trade deadline fast approaching.
