You wake up from nightmares. The scenario of Nikola Jokic failing to sign a contract extension this summer with the Denver Nuggets could rapidly devolve into a doomsday situation if the Nuggets aren't careful. But unfortunately, after the latest insider update, it's a scenario that suddenly feels too close for comfort, and one that could be a reality a lot sooner than any Nuggets fan wants.
We've heard many times from Jokic that he wants to stay in Denver and that he's really happy here. But how much of that is just him being gracious and nice to the organization? We know he loves the fans, but is he saying some of the niceties to keep his boss happy, while trying to sneak out the back door next summer? I certainly hope that is not the case, but why not just sign the extension? Please, sign the extension, Joker.
A post-draft bombshell for the Nuggets
The newest drop from Marc Stein and Jake Fischer in The Stein Line (subscription required) delivered the big update about Jokic.
"We were told this week Jokic feels no need to rush the extension, since a very lucrative deal can be just as easily signed next summer as this summer."
The duo noted that it was around this same time last year that the Nuggets and Jokic came to an agreement to wait one more year to sign his extension, and here we are, and now the lucrative player-option year and the sneaky exit plan are a looming catastrophe if the worst-case scenario occurs.
Jokic may be sending a signal for the Nuggets to make improvements
Jokic's extension would be for either three years and $214 million, or four years for $278 million, depending upon whether Jokic takes the $62.8 million player option next summer or not. But it's not the money he would be leaving on the table for a little longer that should have Nuggets fans worried.
No, it's the fact that this will put pressure on the Nuggets to improve the roster around him, and they aren't exactly the spending type of team. The Nuggets don't even have a proper practice facility, and are still using the auxiliary gym at Ball Arena. They spent last year trimming salary and trading away a top wing in Michael Porter Jr., and you can bet Jokic took notice of it. And all rumors point to the same scenario this summer, too.
Pair the bombshell update with the comments he recently made about the Nuggets not being capable of winning the first round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, aka, the best team won, and you can connect some dots that he's not pleased with the roster and wants to see what the Nuggets' long-term vision is before he commits to it.
Is Joker loyal? Yes, so much so. We can only hope that he is on his word about wanting to stay in Denver.
But the thought of him forcing the Nuggets' hand to build a contender that they may not pay for, only for him to be upset and walk next summer to do something like join Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers, would be way too hard to swallow. A true doomsday situation. It could be a long season filled with drama if Jokic doesn't sign that extension asap.
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