Since the beginning of July, it was thought starting center Jusuf Nurkic and the Portland Trail Blazers would agree to a rookie-scale extension, but that apparently won't happen, reports The Oregonian.

The Blazers have already committed $105.3 million to eight players in 2018-19, and the team prefers to see Nurkic play for the entire 2017-18 season before signing their talented center to contract that could pay him more than $20 million annually. Nurkic reiterated his stance that he likes playing in Portland.

"I love this team," Nurkic said. "I love this city. I love these teammates. I enjoy it here."

Nurkic, with no new deal, will be a restricted free agent in 2018.

"Bottom line, I want to be here," Nurkic said. "And I'll let my agent handle the other things."

-- Nick Silva