Jusuf Nurkic Reportedly Opts Out of Summer League
By Len Nunes
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Jusuf Nurkic (Bosnia-Herzegovina) heads to the stage after being selected as the number sixteen overall pick. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Two very interesting tweets suggesting that the Denver Nuggets and their first draft pick of 2014 Jusuf Nurkic are not quite on the same page.
A person can understand a player opting out of Summer League to play for his National Team. What I am struggling to understand is the Nuggets linking a contract offer to Nurkic playing in Summer League.
You would think the Nugs and Nurkic had this discussion before the draft right? Is this just a smoke screen to cover the “draft and stash” mentality? I figure some of the anger surrounding the drafting of Nurkic with our 1st pick in the draft is because of the belief he would be stashed overseas.
Here is the entire story from Sportando.com:
"According to Bosnian Basketball Federation secretary Denver Nuggets offered to Jusuf Nurkic a contract but only if he plays NBA Summer League.Jusuf Nurkic declined to play NBA Summer League because he wants to play for National Teams, U20 and A team.“Nurkic will join the National Team Under 20 on July 5 to play Eurobasket B Division and then he will join the senior National Team. But we are in a comical situation. Denver Nuggets want to sign Jusuf Nurkic to a contract but just if he plays in the NBA Summer League. However, Jusuf doesn’t want to change his plans because he wants to play for Bosnian National Team. His agent called us begging to accept Denver Nuggets’ proposal to play in the Summer League. Honestly, we did not know how to answer him. It is a ridiculous to ask us to let a player leave. Nurkic has a terrible desire to play for the National Team. He loves his country and we are all pleasantly surprised by his attitude” said Harun Mahmutovic."
What are your thoughts?