In the first two games of the Phoenix Suns semifinals series against the Denver Nuggets, Deandre Ayton has made quick work exposing the Portland Trail Blazers, and more specifically Jusuf Nurkic‘s, defensive flaws. Nikola Jokic put on a clinic against Nurkic and the Blazers defense, bolstering those that voted for him as the league’s MVP.
While Jokic is in a special class of players, in which no defender can truly stop them, he looks much more human against Ayton and the Suns compared to the ethereal form he displayed against the Blazers.
Between established stars such as Jokic, Anthony Davis, and Rudy Gobert and the young bigs on the rise like Zion Williamson, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Deandre Ayton himself, it’s becoming glaringly obvious that Portland needs to upgrade their starting center spot.
Jusuf Nurkic is a versatile and skilled center, but the Portland Trail Blazers need a defensive force
Nurk has a lot of strengths that do put him a step above other centers, but the way Portland’s current roster is structured, the Blazers need a more defensive-minded man in the middle.
Rip City has a few options moving forward to ensure that they solve their interior defensive deficiencies.
They could acquire a true lockdown artist that could come in off the bench and possibly start for Nurkic when the Blazers face off against a superior big.
They could also load up on perimeter defenders to ensure that Nurkic only has to worry about his own matchup and could get help if needed.
Lastly, they could use Nurkic and other assets to create a package to trade for a true DPOY candidate.
Here’s one way they could hit each of these options: