The Denver Nuggets' offseason could come with some difficult decisions. They're pressed up against the second-apron tax, and in order to run it back, they'll have to go over that threshold by re-signing Peyton Watson in free agency if they don't trade someone else. But they have one decision that Nikola Jokic has made the easiest of them all for the Nuggets this summer. They've simply got to get his max-contract extension signed.
Jokic's eligible for a max extension of either three years and $214 million or four years and $278 million. That all depends on whether or not Jokic would exercise his 2027-28 player option, says ESPN's Bobby Marks. The Nuggets and Jokic can sign the extension starting the day after the NBA Finals conclude, and they should sign this deal on day one and move on, because Jokic's still at the top of his game despite the first-round exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The decisions only get tougher after Jokic's extension
Jokic's extension is a no-brainer for the Nuggets. Sure, he would be paid an average of $71 million and change for the three-year $214 million extension, but this is Joker. He should have just won his, ahem, sixth MVP in a row, but six top-twos in a row will have to do. But it's one of the few easy calls they'll have, and they're all going to be tougher than this simple matter.
The Nuggets front office and team president, Josh Kroenke, will have to decide what they believe is the best course of action for the team. Watson needs to come back, but that creates the second apron tax issue, which they're going to run into as they construct the roster without cuts or trades.
The Nuggets can't waste Jokic's title window, if it's still open
That means the Nuggets are either paying a hefty penalty in the second-apron tax, getting super creative to give it a gung-ho go with Jokic, or letting his title window slip away. Jokic's going to be 31 next season, not old by any means, but with Aaron Gordon at 31 as well, and Jamal Murray hitting 29, the Nuggets' core is much older than the San Antonio Spurs, who took the leap this season.
The Nuggets aren't just older than both the Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder, but they're also behind them athletically and defensively. The Nuggets will be forced to spend to fill those holes, or disband for one or two years while they retool around Jokic. That would be painful and a waste of Jokic's prime. He just won his eighth All-NBA Team award, and he led the league in both rebounds and assists.
It doesn't do the Nuggets any goodwill with Jokic to not put their best foot forward in building what they can. Hopefully, this is the season they spend into the second-apron if needed, but at least they've got one easy decision they can make on opening day of the off-season.
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