NBA Draft 2014: Denver Nuggets Receive Jusuf Nurkic and Gary Harris In A Trade With The Chicago Bulls
By Andrew Dill
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Gary Harris (Michigan State) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number nineteen overall pick to the Chicago Bulls in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets made a draft-day trade with the Chicago Bulls as Denver sent their 11th overall selection Doug McDermott to the Bulls in exchange for the 16th and 19th overall selections. Denver would end up selecting Jusuf Nurkic (16th overall) and Gary Harris (19th overall).
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Jusuf Nurkic (16th overall) is a 6-foot-11, 280 pound center out of Bosnia and has been compared to international players such as Nikola Pekovic and Zaza Pachulia. He features a wingspan of 7’2″ which makes him a weapon in the post with that and his frame.
Nurkic averaged 11.5 points, 5.4 rebounds per game in 16 minutes of action in the ABA and averaged 9.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in the Eurocup. All-in-all, I’m not quite sure how much we will see Nurkic this season with the Denver Nuggets, but his playing-time might increase if a player like JaVale McGee or Timofey Mozgov goes down.
Gary Harris would go 19th overall and is regarded as the steal of the draft as he dropped all the way to 19. He has drawn comparisons to O.J. Mayo but can offer more on the defensive end. I can guarantee you Denver did not see him dropped this far or the Arron Afflalo trade would have never happened.
Harris stands at a stout 6’4′, weighing in at 205 pounds. He comes from Michigan State where he and many others led the Spartans deep into the NCAA Tournament before getting up-ended by the NCAA Champion Connecticut Huskies.
Harris averaged 16.7 points during his sophomore season, collecting 4.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Harris will bring a defensive presence to the Nuggets, along with toughness and confidence.
Denver would also throw power forward Anthony Randolph into the deal with McDermott for Nurkic and Harris.