Following the departure of Walker Kessler during the offseason, it would appear as though Nurkic could be about to receive an unexpected opportunity as the starting center in Utah. He played just 41 games during the 2025-26 season, averaging 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 26.4 minutes per contest. While the games' count was less than ideal, it likely had a lot to do with the fact that Utah had no incentive to win down the stretch. Heading into the 2026-27 season, Nurkic will be competing with Jaxson Hayes and Kyle Filiowski for minutes at the center spot. At this stage, he is probably the best starting fit, although his minutes may not reflect what is seen as 'normal'. If he can flirt with 28 minutes per game, Nurkic should be a walking double-double on most nights. Despite not being a great defender, he typically finds a way to provide serviceable contributions on that end of the floor, while also providing out-of-position assists. There is no reason to reach too high in drafts, although considering him anywhere after pick 100 feels like a worthwhile risk.