2021-2022 MAVS NEWS: 4th in West | WCF loss [ARCHIVED]

[SleepingHero]

Let me present the "Denver" case.

1. Jokic is the MVP. He is the star between the two, not Luka. Same case like Giannis - players should come play with him. 
2. Denver drafted him, believed in him and has showed they want and can build around him. They are extremely well run organization that drafts well, develops well and trades well. They were just extremely unlucky with injuries.

The main reason against the Denver idea is solely because of Luka's contract. He has already re-upped with the Mavs and won't be available at the earliest of 2026. 

5 years is an eternity in the NBA. 5 years ago KD just joined GSW after their 73-9 run. Lebron just came off an inhuman playoff run and beat those very Warriors on a different team. Demarcus Cousins was an all-star for the Kings and hadn't been traded to the Pels yet. Russell Westbrook "King of Triple Doubles" only had 37 at that point (he'd accrue 42 the very next season). Jayson Tatum was just drafted! Ok ok enough of the throwback examples.

Point is, by then Jokic will be 31 and who knows what Denver will look like or even what the Mavs will look like!

It's hard to project that far out. And if both of them want to play together, then it's easiest for all involved is if the first one leaves at the first opportunity and that's Jokic, since he'll be a free agent in a little under 500 days. Mind you this is all predicated that Jokic's desire to win and play with Luka supersedes his desire to stay with the Nuggets.

There are a lot of question marks surrounding the Nuggets roster. Will Murray ever be the same? Will the spine of MPJ last the length of his contract? Is their team even good enough alone while healthy to take on the titans of the West in PHX, GSW, and a fully loaded Clippers next year?

And now compare that if you're Jokic with the idea of playing with a 24 year old now-entering-his-prime Doncic who almost singlehandedly took down those Clippers with a middling roster and injured neck.

Again, I don't think it will happen. Jokic in all likelihood signs his super-max extension this summer. BUT if it would happen, odds are Jokic is leaving Denver.