What’s up with Jusuf Nurkic? Hornets coach gives update on Charlotte’s acquisition
Take a deep breath. Nothing’s wrong with Jusuf Nurkic.
With Mark Williams sent back to the Charlotte Hornets over the weekend following the rescinding of the trade to the Los Angeles Lakers for Dalton Knecht, and Nurkic yet to speak to the media after being dealt from Phoenix, some are wondering what’s going on with the Bosnian center.
Especially after he registered his second straight DNP-Coach’s decision in Monday night’s 97-89 loss to the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center.
Nurkic, as explained by coach Charles Lee, is simply being eased into everything.
“The plan is to try to put Nurk in his best position to be successful when he’s on the court,” Lee said. “We are still trying to learn him and learn his body, and we want to put him out there at a time when we think he’s ready to hit the ground running.
“So, he’s been phenomenal since he’s been here, asking questions and doing what we can do since the trade has cleared. And we’ll see what it looks like for him as he continues to ramp up his workload.”
Acquired hours before the trade deadline last Thursday following Williams’ since-reversed departure, Nurkic’s initial responsibility was to serve as a backup to Moussa Diabate, who’s started the last three games and played well enough to have his two-way contract converted into a standard three-year NBA deal. Diabate tossed in a career-best 21 points to go with 10 rebounds against the Nets before exiting with a right eye abrasion.
His role is now in limbo with Williams back on board, although it’s uncertain exactly when the 7-footer will actually be physically present with the Hornets. Unlike Knecht, who returned to his former team Monday night and was available for Luka Doncic’s debut with the Lakers, Williams still is not with the Hornets.
He didn’t meet up with Charlotte in New York in the aftermath of Sunday’s loss in Detroit and isn’t expected to do so prior to the team’s arrival in Florida for Wednesday’s game against Orlando — the Hornets’ final outing before the All-Star break — league sources told the Observer.
In the meantime, Lee’s been in contact with the 23-year-old.
“Yeah, we’ve had some good conversations,” Lee said. “We are all excited to have Mark back with the group. I think that we are still working through some things, but the hope is for him to rejoin us as soon as possible.”
With one game left until the All-Star break, the likelihood of Williams flying to hook up with the Hornets is probably slim and the Hornets could be giving him more time to mentally prepare for the unusual situation he’s about to experience. There’s a strong chance his initial game back comes next Wednesday against — guess who — the Lakers.
Should make for an interesting storyline in the shadows of Hollywood.
