The Santa Cruz Warriors will have an NBA presence at an upcoming practice, but it won't be coming from Golden State.
Nope, instead, it will be a member of the Portland Trail Blazers -- and not the Warriors -- reportedly practicing with Santa Cruz. According to Blazers beat reporter Casey Holdahl, Portland center Jusuf Nurkic will practice with Golden State's G League team.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Nurkic has not played in the NBA since sustaining a compound fracture of his tibia and fibula last March, but it would appear that he is inching closer to a return. Traditionally, one would expect Nurkic to practice with Portland's own G League team, but the Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets are the only two NBA franchises that don't have one. So, Nurkic will have to travel a bit further south to prepare for his long-awaited return.
[RELATED: Warriors still on pace for No. 1 pick despite Steph's return]
The Blazers currently sit 4.5 games back of the Memphis Grizzlies for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Assuming all goes well with the practice with Santa Cruz, Nurkic should be a big boon to Portland's chances.