The Denver Nuggets are in danger of falling into a play-in spot while sporting an 11-13 record coming out of the All-Star break. The team decided to take drastic action on Tuesday and fire head coach Michael Malone immediately and not extend the contract of general manager Cavin Booth.
This turmoil has led to speculation that three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic could be unhappy in Denver and try to force his way out this offseason. Oddsmakers have posted Nikola Jokic odds on who his next team might be, if he leaves the Nuggets. Not surprisingly, the Los Angeles Lakers top the Nikola Jokic next team odds market.
Nikola Jokic next team odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
 Los Angeles Lakers |
+300 |
 KK Mega Basket |
+400 |
| KK Joker |
+600 |
 Toronto Raptors |
+800 |
 Los Angeles Clippers |
+1000 |
 Golden State Warriors |
+1500 |
 Oklahoma City Thunder |
+2200 |
 Miami Heat |
+2500 |
 Brooklyn Nets |
+2500 |
 Orlando Magic |
+4000 |
Odds as of 4-9.
Nikola Jokic next team favorites
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off the improbable and pried Luka Doncic from Dallas, so why can't they do the same with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets?
It would be a little harder to pull off the trade for Jokic, who commands a cap hit of north or $50 million, meaning the Lakers might have to ship out a lot of depth pieces in order to remain cap compliant. They would likely also have to build a package around Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht, and at that point you have to wonder if the Lakers will think it worth their while to gut their roster, even if it means bringing in an all-world talent like Jokic.
There's also the problem of having only one ball to go around and three all-time scorers in LeBron James, Doncic, and Jokic to feed.
KK Mega Basket and KK Joker
Prior to his coming over to the NBA, Jokic played with Serbia's KK Mega Basket of the Adriatic Basketball Association from 2013-15. KK Joker is a different Serbian team in the same league named after Jokic's nickname.
Jokic spends a good chunk of his offseasons in his native Sombor, Serbia, which he once referred to as his "personal paradise." Jokic is a major horse racing fan and owns a horse farm in his homeland.
Although it seems farfetched for Jokic to walk away from hundred of millions of dollars in NBA money and take much less to play in Serbia, it doesn't seem out of the question based on his personality.
After all, Jokic said that winning an NBA title is "not the most important thing in the world" back in 2023.
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors would be hitting the "fast forward" button on their rebuild if they were able to reel in Jokic.
The Raptors boast several young players that might appeal to the Nuggets in a trade, including Scottie Barnes, who is still playing on his rookie contract. Toronto indicated that they're interested in opening a window to contend next season by bringing in Brandon Ingram.
Popular NBA futures odds
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The Nikola Jokic situation at a glance
Prior to the start of the 2024-25 season, an apparent "cold war" was brewing between head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth over personnel decisions. Josh Kroenke, vice chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, told Altitude TV of the decision to fire Malone, "There were certain trends that were very worrisome to me at different points in time. But they would get masked by a few wins here and there and in the world of professional sports, when winning and losing is your currency, winning can mask a lot of things."
Frustrations have boiled over post-All-Star break, per The Athletic. "League sources said there had been significant frustration within the locker room at how the Nuggets were playing, particularly defensively. The Nuggets were just 20th in defensive rating. Jokic has been frustrated with the team’s defensive commitment and performance this season."
The report continued, "That frustration started to become apparent on the floor. In Malone’s final two weeks in charge, the Nuggets lost important games to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors. But they also lost winnable games, particularly to the San Antonio Spurs at home."
The Denver Post reported that the Nuggets came to Jokic before making the announcement and that Jokic did not request any changes. Jokic is under contract until 2026-27 with a player option for 2027-28, although he is eligible to sign a three-year extension after the 2025 NBA Finals.
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