Nuggets could cut ties with Nikola Jokic via shocking blockbuster trade, per team president

The Denver Nuggets weren’t a competent franchise toward the end of the 2024-25 regular season.

The Nuggets fired their head coach, Mike Malone, following a four-game losing streak and were a few losses away from being forced to compete in the Play-In Tournament. 

Denver managed to reach the playoffs and advance to the Western Conference semifinals despite being out of whack since early April.

However, according to Nuggets president Josh Kroenke, the organization may have to trade its star player, Nikola Jokic, if a particular circumstance arises.

“I think that for us, as an organization, going into that second apron is not necessarily something that we're scared of,” Kroenke said Tuesday. “I think that there are rules around it that we need to be very careful of with our injury history.” 

“The wrong person gets injured, and very quickly you're in a scenario where, that I never want to have to contemplate, and that's trading No. 15 (Jokic). We're very conscious of that pushing forward.”

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Jokic operated as a superhuman center with the Nuggets all year. Even if individuals aren’t fond of the three-time MVP’s play style, they must respect his ability to put the Nuggets on his back and ensure that a postseason berth materialized. 

The 30-year-old phenomenon tormented opponents in the low post, showcased his pitch-back/pick-and-pop three-point shooting chops, rewarded off-ball cutters with crisp passes out of defenders’ reach, and utilized his large frame to snag rebounds at an elite level nightly. 

Jokic averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game, shooting 57.6% from the field and 41.7% from three. 

While Kroenke noted that a potential injury could result in a blockbuster trade centered around Jokic in the foreseeable future, he made it clear that the franchise will offer the Serbian sensation a contract extension while the situation in Denver is somewhat intact.

“We’re definitely going to offer it,” Kroenke said. I’m not sure if he’s going to accept it or not.”

Assuming disaster doesn’t strike in Denver, Kroenke and the Nuggets won’t have to worry about moving on from Jokic anytime soon.

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