Nikola Jokic has established himself as one of the best centers ever to play the game of basketball.
He racks up gaudy numbers, wins MVP awards, and even has a championship under his belt. But has the Joker reached his peak with the Denver Nuggets?
The last two seasons, Denver has been bounced in the second round of the playoffs, despite Jokic playing at an elite level. If it continues, it’s not hard to imagine the Serbian requesting a fresh start on a new team.
Nuggets Trade Idea Ships Nikola Jokic to the Los Angeles Lakers
In a mock trade proposed by Sports Illustrated’s Ethen Hutton, the Nuggets would send Jokic to the Los Angeles Lakers to team up with his friend, Luka Doncic.
Denver Nuggets receive: LeBron James, Bronny James, 2026 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick swap
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Nikola Jokic
In what would be a monumental trade that would shake up the landscape of the NBA, the Lakers ship out LeBron James and his son, Bronny, along with a boatload of draft capital to acquire the three-time MVP.
“To pull off a trade of this magnitude, not only would it cost the Lakers the league’s all-time leading scorer, but three first-round picks and a first-round pick swap in 2031. L.A. mortgages a significant chunk of their future, but pieces together one of the top star pairings in league history,” wrote Hutton.
“Jokic and Doncic have already built notable rapport and are good friends on and off the court. This duo could set the Lakers up for title contention for at least the next half-decade.”
The only snag in this deal would be if LeBron were willing to waive his no-trade clause and authorize the trade. Considering the King has only been interested in playing in big markets (excluding Cleveland), it’s unlikely he would want to go to Denver.
But maybe the prospect of keeping his son with him is enough to make the trade go through, and we have a new superstar pairing in Los Angeles.
Regardless, Nuggets brass would probably never move their franchise’s lone Finals MVP, but it’s fun to think about a world where the two European phenoms dominate the court together.
