After losing in the first round of the NBA playoffs to the Golden State Warriors, the Denver Nuggets found themselves in a precarious position. This situation was amplified by the news of president Tim Connelly's departure for Minnesota. Despite the unfavorable turn of events, the Nuggets seem to have done some solid damage control with the front office and star player Nikola Jokic.
According to the Athletic, the Nuggets and Jokic are on the same page, and the reigning MVP will accept a $260 Million contract extension when offered in July.
Jokic had already been open about his desire to stay in Denver, but the report provides new confirmation that Jokic and the Nuggets front office are in agreement about the team's future.
“If (the) offer’s on the table, of course, I’m gonna accept it because I really like the organization,” Jokic said after Denver’s Game 5 playoff loss to the Warriors. “I really like the people who work here.”
Connelly was a pillar of the basketball operations in Denver, leading the charge in building the Nuggets' roster to its current state. He is also credited with drafting Nikola Jokic before anyone had an inclination of the big man's potential. New president Calvin Booth will have big shoes to fill.
Booth alongside other members of Denver's front office met with Jokic family and left confident that the two sides were in agreement about the team's plans moving forward. The Nuggets are widely considered a contender when their core of Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are healthy. However, Booth is still expected to take an aggressive approach in improving the roster around Jokic.
The two-time MVP turned 27 in February. His new contract will likely take him into his 30s and towards the end of his prime. In a highly competitive Western Conference, the Nuggets will need to take every opportunity to expand and capitalize on their championship window.
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