Nightmare Scenario That Could Spark Nikola Jokic Trade Revealed

In a press conference on Tuesday June 24, 2025, Denver Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke discussed a variety of topics including new Nuggets front office VPs Ben Tenzer and John Wallace and the depth of the Nuggets roster. It was mostly standard offseason procedure. 

But one comment set the NBA world on fire. 

During a conversation about the Nuggets’ financial approach to the upcoming season and especially the new second salary cap apron, Kroenke inexplicably brought up trading superstar forward Nikola Jokic. 

“The wrong person gets injured and very quickly you’re in a scenario I never want to contemplate, and that’s trading No. 15,” Kroenke said. 

Jokic of course dons the famous No. 15, also previously worn by Nuggets legend Carmelo Anthony, who the Nuggets coincidentally traded away to the New York Knicks during the prime of his career. 

Jokic is the kind of player most NBA fans would think that the Nuggets would never consider trading, but apparently, even he is expendable if the wrong financial situation arises. 

This news also comes on the heels of the most shocking trade in NBA history this past season, when the Dallas Mavericks sent franchise mainstay Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Jokic and Doncic are two of the NBA’s biggest European stars and are great friends, so it would again be ironic to see history repeat itself. 

Could the Nuggets’ Injuries Get That Bad? 

Unfortunately for Nuggets fans, that “injury history” that Kroenke mentioned is pretty bad. 

The Nuggets did not have a single player play all 82 games last season; each player missed at least 3 contests. 

Jamal Murray, the Nuggets’ second best player, missed the entire 2021-22 season with a torn ACL. 

Michael Porter Jr. also missed an entire season early in his career. Aaron Gordon played only 51 games last season. 

The Nuggets are clearly a team that has dealt with their fair share of the injury bug within the last several seasons. But it would likely take multiple season-ending injuries that put the Nuggets out of the playoff race for a Jokic trade to become even a thought in the minds of the front office. 

Is Jokic’s Long Term Future in Denver Uncertain? 

To make matters worse for Nuggets fans, Kroenke also admitted at the same press conference that he’s not sure if Jokic will sign a contract extension with the team this offseason.

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

Jokic’s current contract with the Nuggets runs through the 2026-27 season, with a player option for 2027-28. 

Kroenke also noted that if Jokic waits to sign a contract extension with the Nuggets until the 2026 offseason, he can make more money on that next contract. However, if he signed a new extension now, he could get to another even more lucrative contract even more quickly. So there’s financial advantages to both, and it really just comes down to Jokic’s preference. 

Nuggets fans were alarmed that was Kroenke’s response instead of something like, we want to make Jokic a Nugget for life. 

What do you think? Is a Nikola Jokic trade possible?

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