Lakers predicted to steal Nuggets' $276 million three-time MVP via blockbuster trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Things have lined up perfectly for Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves and advance to the second round of the postseason.
The Timberwolves are playing without their No. 1 scoring option, Anthony Edwards (left knee hyperextension), and their three-point center wing Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles injury), creating a clear path for Denver to get the job done in round No. 1.
However, the Nuggets have dropped the ball thus far, as they’re currently on the brink of elimination even after securing a Game 5 victory on their home floor (they now trail the Timberwolves 3-2).
If Denver flames out early and Jokic opts not to sign a long-term extension with the franchise after three consecutive playoff duds, Locked on Nuggets’ Matt Moore believes the Los Angeles Lakers will secure his services in the offseason via a blockbuster trade.
“If Joker declines the extension, then they will trade him, because you can’t lose Nikola Jokic for nothing,” Moore said Sunday. “They will trade him to the Lakers, I guess, if that’s what he wants, or wherever he wants to go. They’ll trade him and get a bunch back for him.”
The Nuggets should do everything in their power to turn things around and give Jokic a legitimate reason to ink a long-term deal with the organization this summer. While Denver would undoubtedly land a significant haul for Jokic in a hypothetical trade scenario (a deal would likely be centered on Austin Reaves), they wouldn’t receive a player anywhere near as skilled as Jokic.
The NBA champion center has the vision chops of a dynamic pass-first point guard, the pick-and-pop ability of a daunting stretch five, the off-the-dribble shot-creation and slashing ability of a sluggish yet near-unguardable wing, and the polished low-post skills of a traditional back-to-the-basket big man.
Essentially, Jokic can do it all on the hardwood, and pairing him with Luka Doncic in Los Angeles would be unfair in every way imaginable.
If Los Angeles falls short in the postseason, it’s reasonable to assume they'll be prepared to go all-in for another superstar, and it appears like Jokic could be that guy (Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will also be on its radar this offseason).
Like always, it’ll be interesting to see what the future holds for the championship-aspiring Lakers.
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