The Nuggets senior executives make a "hard talk": If they are injured again, Jokic may be traded

The Denver Nuggets management, who had been silent for a season, suddenly became extra cautious and "pragmatic" this offseason.

On June 25, Josh Kroenke, president of Nuggets basketball operations, rarely responded to various speculations about Jokic's future in an exclusive interview. His statement did not avoid sensitive topics. He not only talked about the renewal of the core player, but also put the assumption that "If a major injury occurs, Jokic may be traded" on the table for the first time.

This is not a simple public opinion public relations, but a management statement that can almost be interpreted as "vaccination" in advance.

Kroenke mentioned in the interview that the team is reexamining the financial flexibility under the new NBA version of the labor and capital agreement. Faced with the so-called "second local tyrant line", they must make more pre-thinking on possible emergencies. Unlike the previous "goal-out" gambling thinking, this time, the Nuggets obviously prefer "bottom-line thinking".

If the core rotation player experiences serious injuries, it is not ruled out that the lineup structure is adjusted, and even non-sale products like Jokic are included.

This sentence sounds cruel at first glance, but it reveals a reality. In today's NBA ecosystem, even if there are two MVPs, there is no 100% exemption. Teams need to use championships to measure success or failure and use health to determine investment cycles. The Nuggets have played high load for two consecutive years, and the high-intensity competition has brought the lineup's health to a red light. Although Jokic is known for his "Iron Man", the team is also pre-platforming any potential variables.

Management has not concealed this calm attitude of "being prepared from time to time".

At the same time, the Nuggets did not intend to give up the Serbian center easily. According to Kroenke, the team is planning to hand Jokic a three-year, $212 million super maximum salary contract this summer. This offer meets the super top salary set by the league and is almost the best treatment that can be given at this stage. Behind this contract is not only a competition for salary, but also a showdown between trust and future direction. Kroenke stressed that they will fully respect the players' wishes and will also consider their family planning and competitive cycles. This is not a one-way requirement, but a real two-way choice.

In other words, the Nuggets hope to continue building a team around Jokic, but if the players have other professional ideas, they will not force themselves to stay.

This is different from the previous practice of NBA teams signing the maximum salary if they have a disagreement. The management's attitude is more like saying: We are willing to continue to fight side by side, but everything is based on reality and health. This negotiation strategy is reminiscent of the Celtics' attitude when dealing with Jaylen Brown's contract last year - rational, but not lacking in respect.

Kroenke also made it very straightforward when talking about why the team failed to defend their title. He admitted that although the players tried their best, the Nuggets' goal was always the championship. As long as you don’t win the championship, you will fail. Because of this, they will not be paralyzed by the "unsatisfactory" of a series, but instead hope to tap deeper potential from the existing lineup.

Improvement does not necessarily depend on luxury signings, maybe among the role players on the bench who have not yet fully bloomed.

This also explains why the Nuggets may not cause big waves in the free market, but rather tend to keep the lineup stable and fine-tune the internals. What they value is team tacit understanding and system growth, rather than headline-style big moves. This pragmatic strategy seems particularly calm when more and more teams are in the dilemma of gambling.

From a deeper perspective, the management logic released by the Nuggets this time is a new trend of "taking risks forward". No more myths on any player, nor do they use short-term results as the only indicator. They are trying to build a more lasting, controllable championship system, even if it means making "ruthless" decisions occasionally.

Jokic's future is still in Denver, but it has gone from "unshakable" to "conditional stability."

Whether it is salary balance, injury prevention and control or public opinion guidance, the Nuggets are turning uncontrollable into as controllable as possible. They are no longer satisfied with following the trend, but want to actively build their own long-term competitive paradigm. It is precisely because of this that the management's "warning statement" this time is particularly interesting.

This team may not be a regular news player, but they are destined to be the core force that the West cannot ignore in the next few years.