Denver Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke shocked a lot of people this week when he suggested there is a scenario that might force the team to trade Nikola Jokic, but one reporter is confident that is not going to happen.
While answering questions from the media on Tuesday, Kroenke admitted that the Nuggets are leery about going into the second tax apron. He said doing so would put the team in a bad spot and could even lead to conversations about trading Jokic.
During an appearance on “Get Up” Wednesday morning, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst was asked about the likelihood of Jokic being traded. He confidently said it is not happening.
“First off, they are not going to trade Nikola Jokic. What I think is most important is the effect here of the second apron, a.k.a. Satan’s jail,” Windhorst said. “He says I’m not afraid of it, we’re not scared of it. I actually think that he is because he says this is what could happen. … The reason that the Nuggets have not been able to get back to the Finals the last two years (is that) their team has not been as good because they have not been able to retain role players because they are afraid of the second apron.”
What is the likelihood of the Nuggets trading Nikola Jokic?@WindhorstESPN is confident it won't happen 👀 pic.twitter.com/WrP6DxjBcA
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 25, 2025
The Nuggets are projected to have about $220 million in salary cap allocations next season. The dreaded second apron is projected to be at $207.8 million. Teams that spend beyond that amount become limited in their roster flexibility. There are multiple restrictions placed on teams’ ability to make trades, such as salary matching limits. They can’t use the full midlevel exception to sign players, and there are significant luxury tax penalties, where the amount a player signs for can cost the team much more in penalties.
Windhorst mentioned how the Nuggets have had trouble retaining key role players. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who signed with Orlando last year, is one of them.
Jokic is signed for two more seasons and has a $62.8 million player option for the 2027-2028 season. He can consider signing an extension with the Nuggets this offseason or next.
While the idea of the Nuggets trading Jokic seems farfetched, the three-time NBA MVP made clear last month he feels like the team needs to improve.
