Jusuf Nurkic's emergence in Portland could cost the Nuggets a playoff appearance and a draft pick
When the Portland Trail Blazers shipped Mason Plumlee to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 first-round pick, it seemed like they were waiving the the white flag in their playoff hunt.
The Trail Blazers, then nine games below .500, were shipping their starting center to their top competitor for the No. 8 spot in exchange for a skilled, younger big man and a projected mid-first round pick in the upcoming draft. It seemed the focus had shifted to building for the future.