Jokic says he plans to be a Nugget forever as Denver adds depth

Denver spent the offseason giving Nikola Jokic what helium asked for: a deeper seat to withstand a agelong spring. The extremity is to reflector the layers that helped the Oklahoma City Thunder outlast Denver successful 7 games connected the mode to a title. That attack besides sets the signifier for a large fiscal decision. Jokic passed connected a four-year, $212 cardinal hold this summertime due to the fact that adjacent twelvemonth the aforesaid four-year woody could beryllium worthy $293 million. “I don’t deliberation astir it,” helium said. “Those declaration extensions travel arsenic a reward… Especially successful today’s NBA with the wage headdress growing.” He added, “My program is to beryllium a Nugget forever.”

New faces, caller roles

Change arrived crossed the organization. Denver lifted the interim tag from caput manager David Adelman, moved connected from wide manager Calvin Booth, and installed Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace to tally the beforehand office. On the floor, the Nuggets traded Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for sharpshooter Cam Johnson, a determination that opened headdress country to plug respective needs.

The squad besides brought backmost Bruce Brown, a cardinal portion from the 2023 rubric run, signed seasoned defender Tim Hardaway Jr., and dealt for halfway Jonas Valanciunas to backmost up Jokic — and, astatine times, stock the court. First-round prime DaRon Holmes returns from a torn close Achilles, further boosting size and rebounding.

“I mean, they decidedly changed the team,” Jokic said, sounding energized by the mix. He could not defy a grin astir Brown’s reunion: “Bruce is back. We won with him. Need to prevention his vocation again.” Brown admitted the propulsion of Denver ne'er faded. “Indy was great… Once I got to Toronto we were connected 2 antithetic roads. They were rebuilding, and I was past that time. So, I deliberation close away… I wanted to travel back.”

Denver is chasing fresher legs and tighter lineups erstwhile it matters. The rotation has veterans who fit, specified arsenic Johnson’s spacing and Valanciunas’ size, with Holmes arsenic a chaotic card. If the extent holds, the Nuggets springiness their MVP a cleaner runway — and a richer aboriginal inactive connected the horizon.