Nuggets Shift Offseason Plans to Chase LeBron James Alongside Nikola Jokic

The Nuggets were supposed to be in salary-cap survival mode this offseason. Instead, they might be plotting the boldest move of the summer.

What Changed

After Denver's early playoff exit, team president Josh Kroenke made it clear that everyone except Nikola Jokic was fair game in trade talks. The expectation was that names like Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, or Cameron Johnson would get shipped out to dodge the second apron.

That plan appears to be dead. According to a July 4 report from Mark Stein and Jake Fischer, Denver is "not working under the cap crunch many rival teams once projected." Translation: the Nuggets aren't rushing to gut their roster, and they're quietly emerging as a real suitor for LeBron James.

The Peyton Watson Piece

The biggest domino left standing is restricted free agent Peyton Watson, who's reportedly seeking around $25 million a year. Interestingly, Watson and LeBron share the same agency, Klutch Sports, run by Rich Paul. Paul name-checked Denver as a serious LeBron contender during a recent podcast appearance, and insiders believe Klutch could use its leverage across both deals — a tactic Paul has used before with clients like Tyrese Maxey and Darius Garland.

Why the Math Could Work

Here's the key detail: even teams sitting above the second apron can still offer a veteran minimum contract. Shams Charania has reported that LeBron is reportedly prioritizing a real title shot over a max payday in his next deal. If LeBron is willing to take a minimum-level deal for a shot at another ring, Denver wouldn't need to blow up its roster to fit him in — which explains why the front office has resisted trading away pieces like Cameron Johnson despite the noise.

The Basketball Case

On paper, this pairing makes a ton of sense. Jokic is arguably the best passing big man in league history, and LeBron remains one of the smartest offensive processors in basketball, on or off the ball. Together, they'd give Denver something it's lacked for years: a legitimate offensive anchor for the minutes Jokic sits. A LeBron-led second unit could solve Denver's biggest recurring weakness in one move.

The Competition

Denver isn't running unopposed. The Sixers, Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Warriors, and Heat are all still very much in the mix for LeBron's camp. For the Nuggets, locking in Watson may be the prerequisite that keeps the door open for a serious LeBron pitch.

Bottom line: Denver's offseason narrative has flipped from damage control to championship swing. Whether it actually lands LeBron is far from settled, but the fact that it's even plausible says a lot about how the front office is thinking right now.