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Denver Nuggets
Aug 28, 2025 9:44 PM EDT
It has been a busy offseason for the Denver Nuggets as they have made multiple additions to their roster to upgrade it around their core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.
Of course, the Nuggets have been eliminated in the second round of the playoffs in each of the last two seasons after winning the championship in 2023.
Because of this, they felt that it was time to make some changes and that is exactly what they have done this summer.
Nikola Jokic
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball under pressure from Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) and center Adem Bona (30) as forward Aaron Gordon (32) — Source: © Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Denver began their offseason by trading Michael Porter Jr. and a first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cameron Johnson.
They then signed Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency and acquired Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings to upgrade their bench.
By making these moves, many around the NBA expect the Nuggets to be the biggest threat to the Oklahoma City Thunder this season as they attempt to win another championship.
Nuggets predicted to trade Jokic to Grizzlies
While the Nuggets are expected to be a major championship threat this season, Sports Illustrated’s Mark Morales-Smith recently released a mock trade that would completely shake up their roster and is also extremely unlikely to happen.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27). — Source: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
In the trade, the Nuggets would send Jokic and Murray to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and three first-round picks.
This would be a wild trade for the Nuggets to make and one that would completely shake up the NBA, though also very unlikely to happen.
Of course, Jokic did tell the Nuggets that he would not sign an extension until next season with him set to be an unrestricted free agent during the 2027 offseason if he declines his player option.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15). — Source: © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Despite this, it is hard to imagine Denver trading away arguably the best player in the world, especially for a package of players from the Grizzlies who have had injury problems throughout their careers.
Denver would also be moving Murray in this trade and while his play has declined slightly over the past few seasons, his fit alongside Jokic has worked out great for the Nuggets thus far.
Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. — Source: © Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
For the Grizzlies, this is also a highly unlikely scenario as they would likely not move on from Morant and Jackson Jr., though adding Jokic to their young core could turn them into a title contender.
While that may be the case, the chance of this trade happening is close to zero as both the Nuggets and Grizzlies have shown no desire to move on from their star players ahead of the new season.
About the Author
Nathaniel Holloway