One big question for every NBA team

How will the Nuggets deal with the team option of Nikola Jokic?

The Nuggets have made some substantial changes to their roster within the past few weeks; they brought in Paul Millsap on a nice three-year deal and facilitated a sign-and-trade that sent long-time Nugget Danilo Gallinari to the Clippers. Even with big changes to the roster, the future of franchise cornerstone Nikola Jokic is the biggest question looming over Denver’s season.

Denver has to make a tough decision regarding the team option on Nikola Jokic’s contract as the summer of 2018 approaches. Jokic’s situation is one of the trickier situations in the league. Picking up his minuscule team option seems like a no-brainer, but doing so would actually make him an unrestricted free agent in 2019 (per Spotrac). If Denver declines that option, Jokic will become a restricted free agent in 2018. Zach Lowe and Bobby Marks of ESPN recently pointed out on a recent episode the Lowe Post podcast that Jokic’s situation closely resembles what Chandler Parsons went through in 2014. The Rockets declined his option and made him an unrestricted free agent before letting him walk later that summer. Jokic is a max level player. If Denver chooses to decline his option, they will bring him back at any price.

This contract decision will have huge ramifications for the future of the franchise. If the Nuggets decline the option they will sacrifice 2018 space, but lock-up Jokic long term. Picking up the option is probably the more risky path here; it might allow Denver to grab one more solid player next summer, but then Jokic could potentially walk in 2019. That would be a catastrophic outcome. The Nuggets are on the clock.