Jokic and the Nuggets: A Promising Future
The Denver Nuggets have reinforced their roster, providing Nikola Jokic with the tools he needed to compete at the highest level. After the elimination in the playoffs, the management focused on adding depth to the team, a strategy that could be key to success in the next season. This strategy not only seeks a wider rotation and fresh players for the playoffs, but also to ensure the continuity of their star with a colossal contract extension. Jokic, who had the opportunity to sign a four-year, $212 million extension this summer, chose to wait. Next year, he could sign the same extension for $293 million.Although Jokic is in the third year of his five-year, $276 million supermax contract, he made it clear he wants to stay in Denver long-term. “My plan is to be a Nugget forever,” the star center affirmed. Jokic is enthusiastic about the changes made by the Nuggets this offseason. The team removed the interim status of coach David Adelman, replaced general manager Calvin Booth with Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace, and added several veterans after trading Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets. “They definitely changed the team,” Jokic said. Two seasons after winning their first NBA title, the Nuggets acquired shooter Cam Johnson in the Porter trade, which also freed up cap space to address other needs on the roster. In addition, they secured the return of Bruce Brown, who was crucial in the championship conquest before signing as a free agent. They also added veteran Tim Hardaway Jr. and negotiated for center Jonas Valanciunas, who will be available to back up Jokic and even play alongside him at times. The Nuggets will also have DaRon Holmes, their 2024 first-round pick, who is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon that kept him off the court during his rookie season.“I don’t think about that. Contract extensions are a reward, something natural in this sport. Especially in today’s NBA, with the growth of the salary cap,” Jokic commented.
Nikola Jokic
Brown, who signed with the Indiana Pacers after the Nuggets’ championship parade and was quickly traded to Toronto, expressed his desire to return to Denver shortly after his departure. “Indiana was great for me, but it was only three months. And once I got to Toronto, we were going in different directions, right? They were rebuilding… and I had already been through that stage. So, I think, as soon as I got there, I wanted to come back,” Brown said.“Bruce is back. We win with him. We need to save his career again. We have Cam and Jonas, we have a lot of new guys. We have Holmes healthy. We’ll see. It’s a new energy, a new beginning for us. Hopefully we can do something,” Jokic joked.
Nikola Jokic
