Nuggets phenom Nikola Jokic is due for a big pay day.
The European center is reportedly expected to agree on a five-year, $146MM deal once free agency rolls around this weekend, per Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports.
The Nuggets narrowly missed the playoffs again this season despite winning 47 games. Though it will virtually eliminate most of their cap space, declining Jokic’s $1.6MM team option is the right move, despite it costing them a lot more payroll. By declining the option, Jokic enters restricted free agency as opposed to unrestricted free agency next summer should Denver pick up the option. Declining this option allows the Nuggets to retain Jokic at all costs, as opposed to him potentially leaving for nothing in 2019 unrestricted free agency.
Jokic averaged 18.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.2 steals across 32.6 minutes per contest this season.
