:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60290899/usa_today_10718993.0.jpg)
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported Friday night that the Portland Trail Blazers and Jusuf Nurkic have agreed to a new long-term contract. Two near-simultaneous reports gave slightly differing numbers. This may be related to the fourth year’s reported partial guarantee.
Deal includes partial guarantee in 4th year, source says. https://t.co/p5tUmxnhGD
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 7, 2018
Restricted free agent Jusuf Nurkic has agreed to a four-year, $53M deal with Portland, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 7, 2018
Nurkic averaged 14.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game this season. The Blazers had tendered him a qualifying offer, which made him a restricted free agent. As such, the Blazers had the option to match any offer made by another team. However, there were no public reports of offers from other teams. In Wojnarowski’s full article for ESPN, he notes the lack of money among NBA teams this summer as a factor in the deal. He also states that a larger offer had previously been made.
Nurkic, 23, turned down a more lucrative four-year deal several months ago, but the marketplace has tightened and he chose to take this deal on Friday, sources said. The deal includes a partial guarantee in the fourth year.