Nuggets executive responded to Jokic s refusal to renew his contract: His choice is smart, both of us know

Is the future of the third-time MVP and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in danger? The 6-foot-11-inch man who has never played for other teams has decided not to sign a contract extension with the team, but chooses to talk to him next summer, according to Bennett Duranto of the Denver Post. An anonymous Nuggets management executive told Spotac's Keith Smith that the new management, led by executive vice president of basketball operations Ben Tanzer and executive vice president of player personnel Jon Wallace, is confident in retaining the 2023 Finals MVP.

"Not worry at all," the executive said. "To be honest, it's a wise move for him. He can sign one more year next year, which is the choice for players of his level. The same offer, plus one more year, will be here next year. He knows in his heart that we both have reached a consensus."

Jokic's current contract is a five-year, $276.1 million contract extension for designated veterans, entering his third year, with a $62.8 million player option in the 2027-28 season.

In the 2024-25 season, the seven-time All-Star played the most impressive personal performance in his career: he played 70 regular season games for the Nuggets with 50 wins and 32 losses, averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game, and shooting/three-pointers/free throws were 57.6%/41.7%/80.0%, respectively, becoming the first center in NBA history to average triple-double per game in a single season.

However, last season, due to injuries to starting forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon and insufficient lineup depth, the Nuggets were eliminated after seven hard fights with the final champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semi-finals.

Therefore, the Nuggets made major lineup adjustments this summer: trade Porter to the Brooklyn Nets for cheaper, more balanced offense and defense; introduce center Yonas Valanciunas; sign free agent guards Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr.

sophomore forward Daron Holmes II missed the 2024-25 season (which should have been his rookie season) due to a torn right Achilles tendon, and will also make a comeback in the 2025-26 season to complete the Nuggets' debut.

"We have to improve the depth, which is clear at the trade deadline," said a Nuggets executive. "It is of great significance to have Dalong return this year. The introduction of Cameron, Jonas, Tim, and welcome back Blues are all key additions to us. We are also optimistic about young players, but now they don't have to play top performance every night, and the pressure is much less."