Insider says it’s not the trade scenario for Nikola Jokic that worries the Nuggets.

Nuggets Owner’s Comments Raise Eyebrows Over Jokic Trade Speculation

On Tuesday, Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke sparked conversations by discussing a hypothetical scenario regarding Nikola Jokic’s trade. However, ESPN correspondent Brian Windhorst believes there’s no need for Denver fans to worry.

“They don’t plan to trade Nikola Jokic,” Windhorst stated during ESPN’s “Get Up” on Wednesday morning.

Kroenke hinted at the possibility of a trade while addressing the impacts of the second tax apron during a press conference. It felt like he was treading a fine line between joking and being serious.

“For us, as an organization, getting into that second apron isn’t something we fear,” Kroenke said. “But we have to be cautious given the history of injuries. If the wrong player gets hurt, you could find yourself in a situation I don’t want to imagine. We are very aware of that going forward.”

Windhorst countered the idea that Kroenke and the Nuggets are unconcerned about the second apron, emphasizing that the primary focus should be on retaining role players rather than contemplating a Jokic trade.

“Kroenke mentions not being afraid of the second apron. His words suggest this could very well happen. Why haven’t the Nuggets returned to the finals in the past two years? Because they struggled to keep role players, fearing the second apron implications,” Windhorst explained.

The second apron represents a financial limit set by the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement. Teams that exceed this threshold face significant competitive and financial penalties.

Currently, Denver’s roster is nearing this second apron limit of $207.8 million for the upcoming season.

Last offseason, the Nuggets opted not to re-sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to remain under the second apron, which exemplifies Windhorst’s point about their cautious approach.