Role
Nurkić re-signed for two years and $22 million, and last season showed why. He averaged a double-double (10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds) with 4.8 assists as a hub from the elbows. At 32 and 290 pounds, he's the veteran screener and passer this young group needs.
He's a stopgap, not the long-term answer at center, and nobody around the team pretends otherwise.
2026-27 prediction
He's the starting five in ESPN's projected lineup, but expect him to end the season sharing the minutes with Jackson and Hayes. He'll still rebound and pass. If the free-throw shooting (54.9% last season) doesn't come back, late-game minutes go elsewhere.