The Denver Nuggets are heading into a critical offseason, aiming to strengthen their roster while also hoping to return to championship contention.
After narrowly losing a hard-fought seven-game series to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs, the franchise’s core led by Nikola Jokic remains among the most talented in the NBA.
But it was team president Josh Kroenke who stole headlines this week with remarks that left many Nuggets fans scratching their heads.
Addressing reporters on Tuesday, Kroenke tackled some expected business items-like confirming the Nuggets plan to offer Jokic an extension this summer, even if the superstar center is likely to wait until 2026 for a larger payday. That was not the soundbite that sent shockwaves through Denver, though.
The real surprise came when Kroenke, unprompted, invoked a nightmare scenario for Nuggets fans: a possible future in which the team would consider trading Joki.
A strange warning from the top
The exchange began with Kroenke discussing the NBA’s second apron-a financial threshold that punishes teams with extra restrictions for spending far above the salary cap. Last year, the Nuggets chose not to cross it, a decision that contributed to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leaving in free agency. This summer, Kroenke claimed, “going into that second apron is not something that we’re scared of.”
Yet in the same breath, he pivoted dramatically: “I think that there are rules around it that we need to be very careful of with our injury history. The wrong person gets injured and very quickly you’re into a scenario that I never want to have to contemplate and that’s trading No. 15. And so, we’re very conscious of that pushing forward and providing the resources that we can when the moment arrives. But that second apron, is it a hard cap? I’m not 100 percent sure, but it’s something that teams are obviously very aware of going forward.”
It was a bizarre moment-one that seemed to undercut his earlier confidence. The fact that Kroenke would even mention trading Jokic , the reigning NBA MVP and face of the franchise, as a possibility, instantly fueled fan anxiety and media speculation.
Financial caution may stall roster improvements
This tension is at the heart of Denver’s offseason puzzle. Upgrading the roster without blowing past the league’s financial barriers is easier said than done. Trade rumors have surrounded Michael Porter Jr., whose contract still has two years and nearly $80 million left. Moving him for meaningful assets is a tall order, as rival teams may not view his deal as a bargain.
The challenge for Kroenke and the Nuggets front office is clear. Avoiding luxury tax trouble may help the franchise steer clear of “disaster scenarios” like trading Jokic , but it risks another problem-falling out of contention and testing the patience of the team’s biggest star.
Since winning the championship, the Nuggets have shown a reluctance to make big spending moves. If this conservative approach continues, the 2025-26 roster could look nearly identical to last year’s group, with no guarantee it will be enough to compete at the highest level.
Kroenke‘s attempt to reassure fans has only added to the uncertainty. For Nuggets supporters, the offseason has just begun-and all eyes are on whether the front office is truly prepared to keep building around Nikola Jokic , no matter the financial cost.
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