Re-drafting the 2014 NBA Draft: Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic

Re-drafting the 2014 NBA Draft — 10. Jusuf Nurkic

Jusuf Nurkic put together a couple years of fringe stardom for the Trail Blazers before injuries took their toll. A hulking rim protector and highly intelligent offensive player, Nurkic has always been able to exert considerable influence over the game. His footwork in the post is a thing of beauty, while his sheer size and strength makes him an imposing presence on the glass.

Unfortunately for Nurkic, he may already be on the downswing. Injuries have sapped away much of his mobility on defense, making his success on that side of the ball far more matchup-dependent. He struggles to guard in space, so stretch fives pose problems.

There’s also the simple matter of availability. Nurkic could very well be better than Julius Randle, but he hasn’t played more than 56 regular season games in three years. If he can’t stay on the court, it’s hard to bank on his production.