The recent, unforeseen trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers sent shockwaves throughout the NBA landscape, challenging the notion of which players are truly untouchable. This seismic move has seemingly emboldened Lakers fans, fostering a belief that any star player could now be acquired via trade. Even a player of Nikola Jokic’s caliber, a perennial MVP candidate, is not entirely off the table in the speculative minds of some Los Angeles supporters.
Adding fuel to this speculative fire, the Denver Nuggets recently made a pair of surprising front-office moves, firing both head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth just days before the commencement of the postseason.
Given Doncic’s close friendship with Jokic, these abrupt changes in Denver have naturally led to questions about whether the Lakers could potentially orchestrate a trade for the Nuggets’ three-time MVP during the upcoming offseason, capitalizing on the perceived turmoil within the Denver organization.
Los Angeles Lakers, Nikola Jokic Trade Idea:
One hypothetical trade proposal via Clutch Points would entail Los Angeles sending Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent, three future first-round pick swaps (in 2026, 2028, and 2030), and a 2031 first-round pick to Denver in exchange for Nikola Jokic.
Lakers receive: Nikola Jokic
Nuggets receive: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent, 2026/2028/2030 first-round pick swaps, 2031 first-round pick
However, in reality, any trade for a player of Jokic’s immense value would likely require a package that the Lakers are simply unable to offer, particularly when compared to what other teams around the league could potentially put together. LeBron James’s stature within the Lakers organization makes his departure highly improbable, and while a direct swap of Doncic for Jokic might be the only scenario Denver would even consider, its likelihood remains extremely low.
Furthermore, the Lakers are currently limited in terms of valuable draft capital. Their 2031 first-round pick is the only unprotected first-round selection they can currently offer. Acquiring a player of Jokic’s stature would almost certainly necessitate a substantial influx of unprotected first-round picks for the Nuggets to even entertain the idea.
While Los Angeles could offer three additional pick swap options, the reality is that a team featuring Jokic, Doncic, and James would likely be so dominant that those swaps would never materialize into high draft picks. Without their three-time MVP, the Nuggets would likely plummet to the bottom of the league standings, making those swaps even less appealing.
The prevailing sentiment is that a trade sending Jokic to Los Angeles is exceedingly improbable. Even if the Lakers were to somehow pull off such a move, Austin Reaves, who has blossomed into a player with All-Star potential, averaging 20.2 points per game this season, would almost certainly need to be included in the deal. His relatively team-friendly contract and emerging talent would make him a valuable building block for the Nuggets in a post-Jokic era. Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, and Gabe Vincent would likely be included primarily for salary matching purposes, although each could potentially contribute to Denver’s roster.
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The recent firings in Denver, while surprising, are likely more about maximizing Jokic’s future with the Nuggets rather than signaling a willingness to part ways with the reigning best player in the NBA, who is on track to finish in the top two of MVP voting for the fifth consecutive year. It would require an unprecedented trade offer for the Nuggets to even consider moving him, a package that the Lakers simply do not possess.
The timing of Malone’s firing, with only three games remaining in the regular season, is indeed peculiar and ranks among the latest coaching changes in NBA history. After holding the second seed in the Western Conference just three weeks prior, a combination of Jamal Murray’s renewed injury issues, a decline in team performance despite Jokic’s brilliance, and apparent locker room issues seemingly forced the Nuggets’ ownership into making a drastic move.
Unless this change galvanizes the Nuggets heading into the playoffs, their season may be in jeopardy. However, with strategic roster adjustments in the future, Jokic still possesses the ability to lead Denver back to championship contention, as he did in 2023.