Nurkic and Jokic can't play extended minutes together, especially with Gallinari and Mudiay on the floor. This isn't 1994.
Denver already has Harris and Barton at SG. Chandler returns next season. That's quite a logjam on the wing, especially if you give Gallinari a lot of minutes at the 3. It's not that Buddy couldn't get minutes in Denver, but it's more of an uphill battle than it would be on most lottery teams. To be fair, a lot of minutes will open up when Gallinari makes his annual trip to the injured list. In eight seasons, Gallo has missed 19+ games six times. He's only played 397 out of 640 games (7x82 plus 62 in the lockout year) in his career.
I can see how Denver would benefit from having Buddy, but I don't see how it's a great situation for him, in terms of minutes/development or winning. It's typically an either/or situation for lottery picks, but Denver seems like a 'neither' situation for Buddy.
Smash,
I would say, on a good team, Harris is a nice option off the bench... Will Barton is a career 30% 3pt shooter, and career 42% shooter from the field. He had a "big" year for Denver this year, averaging 14.4 points per game, but that is with a depleted Denver backcourt. He is also a better backup option.
And, why can't Jokic and Nurkic play together? It's not like Jokic is really a true center.. .
If I am Denver I trade Chandler and Faried, and bring in Barton and Harris off the bench at the 2/3 spots and draft Buddy if they can get him at #7.
Below is an interesting article about Jokic vs. Faried at the Power Forward spot.... In summary, Faried is horrible on defense, a HORRIFIC offensive player outside the paint, and he is undersized.
Jokic performed better on defense according to the numbers, and on offense is already a 33% 3pt shooter, and is a pretty solid shooter from most spots on the floor... On top of all that, Jokic has shown to be a tremendous passer. He has a bright future in front of him, very talented player. He was only a rookie too... Nurkic can shoot the jumper pretty well too, but he is mostly a banger.
Here are the games (only 3) where Jokic/Nurkic started together, and this is when they basically tanked and Galinari was out:
Jokic: 19 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists playing next to Nurkic, who had 11 points, 14 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists, and 3 blocks...
Jokic: 18 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists playing next to Nurkic, who had 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocks
Jokic: 8 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists playing next to Nurkic, who had 21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks
https://milehighsports.com/nikola-jokics-future-is-at-power-forward/
