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NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 offseason targets for the Denver Nuggets

By Jerry Christodoulatos

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the game on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the game on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /

1. Nikola Jokic

You don’t have to watch him very long to understand why Nikola Jokic is called The Joker:

Jokic offers a blend of brilliant passing, post-up nuance, smooth shooting and a nifty handles. His unique skill set makes him one of the most entertaining players in the NBA. Nikola is quite simply a remarkable offensive player. And he’s only 23 years old!  Even more remarkable is the fact that the Nuggets got this guy with the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Finding rotation players that low is difficult enough and snagging a franchise guy is nigh impossible.

Uncovering a gem in round two often comes with some financial complications though. Contracts for round two players bear a team option in year three rather than year four (as is the case for round one guys). While picking up his cheapo option seems like a no brainer, it actually isn’t.  If the Nuggets pick up that option, the Joker will become an unrestricted free agent after next season. So he’ll have the ability to leave Denver if he so desires. Should the Nuggets decline the option, Jokic will become a restricted free agent this July; they’ll have matching rights on any offer sheet that he signs, or they can send a five-year max-level deal his way.

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Jokic and his representation will be pushing for Denver to decline his option so that he can cash in now. That would be the best course of action for the Nuggets. They have an opportunity to lock up Jokic for the foreseeable future and they should seize it. The potential downsides of accepting the option are far too great, outweighing any possible short term benefits (such as ducking the tax entirely in 2018-2019). Not heeding Nikola’s wishes and letting him enter unrestricted free agency next year seem like a disaster waiting to happen.

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