Nikola Jokic has already tried to cool off the summer chatter about his next contract, saying he intends to sign the extension and remain with the Nuggets. He even said he wants to retire in Denver, where it all began. But until that signature is actually on the page, the whole situation still hangs over the franchise like a giant unanswered question.
That’s the part Denver can’t really escape. Jokic would have the option to take his team option next summer for $62.8 million, and he’d also be able to add a fifth year to the extension and qualify for a no-trade clause.
On paper, the Nuggets have reasons to feel calm. In reality, the front office has to know how much is riding on this.
The concern isn’t just about keeping Jokic happy in the short term. It’s about what the roster can realistically become around him, given the team’s financial situation and its draft capital problems. If the wrong kind of future starts to take shape, the nightmare version is obvious: Jokic decides he wants a better shot elsewhere, and Denver is left staring at a sign-and-trade at best.
That’s why Jon Wallace’s comments during the Las Vegas Summer League stood out. The Nuggets executive vice president of player personnel made it clear the team believes Jokic will follow through.
“We feel confident. We trust him....we've got no choice but to,” said Wallace.
That’s the NBA’s version of a trust fall, and Denver is leaning all the way back.
The problem is that even if Jokic stays true to his word, the financial squeeze is still real. His 35% max salary can be extended for, and if the Nuggets want to keep building around him at a high level, Kroenke Sports Entertainment and Josh Kroenke may eventually have to absorb massive luxury tax penalties for running afoul of the tax aprons. That’s the kind of bill that can force ugly decisions.
This offseason has already shown how carefully Denver is operating. The Nuggets have done some useful work on the margins, but they’ve been doing it as cheaply as possible.
Adding Alpha Diallo, a defensive specialist, and signing rookie second-round pick Trevon Brazile to minimum contracts was smart business. It was also the kind of business that tells you the organization is watching every dollar.
That’s the larger issue here: the Nuggets may eventually have to break up the band just to stay under the financial line. If they do that, they won’t necessarily replenish the draft-pick stash.
If they don’t do it, they may not be able to improve the roster the way they need to. Either path comes with a cost.
And if Jokic ever decides the situation is too difficult and he wants a cleaner path to winning, Denver’s leverage disappears fast. The best-case outcome then would be a sign-and-trade, which would at least bring something back. But it would also mean the best player in the world is wearing someone else’s jersey.
That’s the fear here. Not just losing Jokic, but sliding into a version of the future that feels all too familiar. The only thing standing between the Nuggets and that kind of mess is faith - faith that Jokic will do what he said he would do, and catch them when they lean back.
In Other News...
One Young Nugget Suddenly Has A Huge Opening This Offseason
Denvers offseason shuffle has created a cleaner path for Julian Strawther, and the Nuggets seem ready to lean on him much more heavily in the second unit. With roster turnover still unfolding and the status of restricted free agents Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones unresolved, Strawther stands out as one of the players most likely to benefit from the changes around him.
The opportunity is bigger than just extra minutes. Strawther is entering a contract year, so every shift in role now carries added weight for both his place in the rotation and his next deal. If Denver keeps reshaping the bench the way it has so far, he could wind up as the primary option off the second unit and maybe even settle into a sixth-man type of role, which would make this season a pivotal one for his future. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Eye Veteran Bench Help For Adelmans Biggest Season Yet
The Nuggets are looking to give David Adelman a more seasoned voice on the bench, and Dave Joerger has emerged as a name worth watching. Denver is reportedly interested in adding the former Grizzlies and Kings head coach as an experienced assistant, a move that would bolster Adelman as he heads into the biggest season of his coaching career.
Joerger has been back in NBA assistant roles since 2020, and that background makes him a natural fit for a staff that could use another steady hand. Paris Basketball has also been in the mix for him, but the broader sense is that Joerger would rather stay in the NBA in an assistant capacity, which leaves Denver as a place to keep an eye on as this search plays out. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Linked To Veteran Shooter In Move That Could Split Fans
The Nuggets have spent much of the offseason in a familiar holding pattern, with Nikola Jokic still at the center of everything and no major shakeup yet around him. Even so, the silence has not stopped the rumor mill from circling, and one of the more interesting ideas floating around is whether Denver could chase a veteran shooter to add more spacing and experience around its core.
Any pursuit like that would not be simple, and it would almost certainly require more than a clean swap to get done. The concept being discussed would have to be built with extra players and draft capital, which is where the debate starts for a team trying to stay competitive without overcommitting its future. [Read more 🡒]