Nikola Jokic’s agent told the Nuggets that picking up his option for next season would hinder their chances of locking him up long-term, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic tweets.
If Denver exercises its team option for 2018/19, Jokic would become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Currently, Jokic is arguably the biggest bargain in the league. He made $1.47MM this season and the team option is just $1.6MM.
If the Nuggets declines their option, Jokic will be a restricted free agent this summer and they’ll be able to match any offer. The team option deadline is June 29th.
Jokic is represented by Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management.
The Nuggets want to keep Jokic, but matching an offer sheet rather than paying him $1.6MM in 2018/19 would have major luxury-tax implications for next season unless they can dump some salary. Still, president of basketball operations Tim Connelly talked at season’s end about wanting to get Jokic’s signature on a long-term contract sooner rather than later, so the team and the center’s camp may be on the same page when it comes to that option decision.
Jokic had a breakout season in 2016/17 and continued to increase his production despite a stronger lineup around him. He averaged 18.5 PPG and 10.7 RPG in his third NBA season while connecting on 39.6% of his 3-point attempts.
I mean unless it helps them significantly having the space if they did pick it up, just don’t pick up the option and be safe about it.
They would pay luxury tax.
So if the Nuggets pick up the obvious team friendly deal they risk pissing off their star
So the agent told Denver how to keep him rather then let his client be unrestricted next year? Doesn’t seem like he had the players best interest in mind.
Getting paid 20m next year instead of 1 sounds a lot better for his client. It’s not like the nuggets didn’t know how this works.
This is smart move by his agent, and if the Nuggets want to keep him they should take the opportunity to lock him up as a restricted free agent.
Assuming he will get an offer for Max they should be willing to match that… who knows, he could be offered less than Max but I consider that highly unlikely.
If he is their best player, pay him now. 1.6m is a joke
Why pay lux tax, they can offer him most money as a FA.
Would tell his agent to shove that where the sun don’t shine. Pick up his option. Who cares if he is a UFA? Correct me if I am wrong, but they can offer him more money and a 5th year correct?
Why put yourself into the Luxury tax next year to appease a guy you’ll ultimately resign for max once Milsap’s option is declined in 19-20? Does not make good business sense. And if he walks, so be it. I’d take the risk.
It may not make wise business sense from one point of view yet Jokic has provided elite-level value for a relative pittance of a salary. The agent’s job is to help their client be compensated at least to market value.
Sports is business yet business often is dependent on relationship quality and working with your valued employee is better than being egocentric and working against them.
Employees are people, they remember selfishness from employers.
His agent must be Teddy KGB – pay that man his money.