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Jokic Weighs Postponing Long-Term Extension With Nuggets

A delay would keep Jokic on his current pay scale and give Denver flexibility to pursue trades and roster moves.

Overview

  • Reporting on Saturday, June 27, indicated Nikola Jokic is seriously considering postponing a long-term extension and pushing formal talks into 2027.
  • Jokic has repeatedly said he wants to stay in Denver, and the club declined to discuss negotiations while saying it feels comfortable in its relationship with him.
  • If he does not sign this summer, Jokic would earn $59.0 million in 2026–27 and hold a $62.8 million player option in 2027–28, which changes Denver’s short-term payroll commitments.
  • Sources say the Nuggets are actively exploring trades to upgrade the roster around Jokic, and recent draft-night moves were aimed at preserving the salary flexibility needed for such moves.
  • Jokic delivered MVP-caliber regular-season numbers in 2025–26 but showed reduced shooting efficiency in Denver’s first-round playoff loss, a performance that helps explain both his caution on timing and the franchise’s push to retool.