Nikola Jokic Linked To Golden State Warriors In Wild Trade Speculation
Could Nikola Jokic ever leave the Denver Nuggets? It's true that he has put off signing an extension this summer. But there are few around Denver that fear their 3-time MVP will be leaving town.
However, the Nuggets are farther from another championship today than they were when the season ended, after being forced to trade burgeoning young two-way wing Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers this week due to luxury tax constraints.
Does that put even a small chink in the armour of the "Jokic will be a Nugget for Life" theory? What if the team struggles mightily next season? The chances of another title in the years to come with the arrival of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and now the Wembanyama-led San Antonio Spurs, are greatly diminished.
Per Sean Deveney of heavy.com, it's not out of the realm of possibility that the Golden State Warriors will be all over The Joker if there's ever even a remote possibility of luring him out of Denver.
With the Nuggets set to be at the salary cap after next season with just four players' contracts accounted for (Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun), "That’s not going to be a championship core, and the Nuggets are lacking depth–and the space to add depth," writes Deveney.
If fissures start to show between Jokic and the organization, the NBA trade rumor mill will run white-hot, especially with some teams–including the Warriors–well-positioned for a Jokic run.
That would be because the Dubs would have massive amounts of room to spend after Draymond Green & Jimmy Butler's contracts come off the books next summer.
A Steph Curry/Joker tandem would be all sorts of fun to watch.
But that wouldn't be the only marquee team that will be angling for Jokic if those 'fissures' start to appear.
Once the ownership situation of the Lakers organization is resolved, their focus will be “dead-set” on Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, per @AnthonyIrwinLA.
— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) August 20, 2026
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Per Anthony Irwin, the Lakers also will be "dead-set" focused on the potential of trying to lure Jokic.
Next summer, just like every offseason in the NBA, could be another explosive one.