Denver center Nikola Jokić is on track to sign a new contract with the Nuggets during the upcoming offseason, NBA insider Shams Charania said Friday on “The Stephen A. Smith Show.”
After Denver’s first-round exit against Minnesota, the three-time MVP twice told reporters, “I still want to be a Nugget forever.” Charania noted that team executives believe Jokić’s pledge and intend to lock him in as the franchise’s long-term anchor.
Jokić, 31, has two seasons remaining on his current deal, which includes a $62.8 million player option for 2027/28. Without an agreement by October, he would effectively enter the 2026/27 campaign on an expiring contract, creating urgency on both sides. A maximum extension could begin at 35% of the 2027/28 salary cap and is projected to total roughly $285 million over four years, based on a $165 million cap estimate for 2026/27 and a 10% rise the following year.
The Serbian star declined a three-year, $212 million offer last summer, anticipating a lengthier and richer commitment. He is coming off another MVP-caliber season, averaging 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists in 65 games while leading the league in rebounds and assists. In the playoff series against the Timberwolves, he neared a triple-double average but shot 44.6% from the field and 19.4% from beyond the arc, and the Nuggets were outscored during his minutes.
Denver’s early postseason exit and mounting payroll could trigger roster changes before training camp. Restricted free agent Peyton Watson is expected to attract interest, and the team may need to shed contracts to re-sign him without surpassing the second-apron threshold. Forward Cameron Johnson, owed $23 million in the final year of his deal, has surfaced as a potential trade candidate.
“There are going to be changes in Denver,” Charania said, citing luxury-tax and apron concerns. “How much, we’ll see, but there will be conversations about players on this roster.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
