The New York Knicks are coming off their first NBA title in 53 years, and owner James Dolan has the choice to pay into the second apron to bring the same bunch back together, but he's avoiding it at all costs. A chance to go back-to-back isn't worth a trip into the second apron for Dolan, and it makes sense that it's probably not in the cards for the Denver Nuggets, either.
But Dolan wasn't shy about paying whatever the tax was in the first apron in his appearance on The Carton Show on WFAN.
"I'll write as big of a check as possible, but I can't write a check that goes into the second apron," Dolan said.
The Nuggets team president and the owner's son, Josh Kroenke, did say that "everything's on the table" for the Nuggets aside from trading Nikola Jokic. But going into the second apron probably won't make the cut.
The Nuggets could do well and stay in the first apron
Kroenke never said what the Nuggets' plan would be, but we all could assume going into the second apron wouldn't be one of the options. And if the Knicks won't do it after they just broke a historic championship drought, there's no way the Nuggets go that route, especially with the roster and trade flexibility they'd lose due to the extra penalties on top of the tax penalties.
But the Nuggets could still put up a decent roster and stay in the first apron. They'd just have to start by trading Cam Johnson or Christian Braun to re-sign Peyton Watson first. They could then add depth and upgrade the defense by making a lateral trade of Jamal Murray to someone like the Portland Trail Blazers for Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, and some future draft picks.
As long as the Nuggets are in the first apron, they have some flexibility. But the problem is going to be the repeater tax for the Nuggets. Dolan sounds like he would be willing to pay the repeater tax one day to win again, as long as the Knicks stay out of the second apron. But the Kroenkes? We can only hope some of the deepest pockets in the sport can shell out two to three times the standard one-for-one luxury tax next season.
The Nuggets' could use Jokic to take a pay cut on his extension
One thing that could help the Nuggets in future years to avoid the second apron again would be for Nikola Jokic to take a pay cut on his extension like the Knicks Jalen Brunson did a couple of years ago. That would open up future salary, but it won't help this year.
This year, the Nuggets should follow the Knicks. Avoid the second apron, field the best team that they can in the first apron, and pay the extra repeater taxes to keep Jokic happy with the squad they've built, and it gives the Nuggets the best chance to win.
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