Nuggets are wasting Nikola Jokic’s time

On By Littum

August 10, 2024; Paris, France; Serbian power forward Nikola Jokic (15) reacts after a game against Germany in the men's basketball bronze medal match at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

August 10, 2024; Paris, France; Serbian power forward Nikola Jokic (15) reacts after a game against Germany in the men’s basketball bronze medal match at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to Layup Lines, For Win’s basketball newsletter. Register here to have it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Do you have feedback for Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this short reader survey. This is Mike Sykes

Happy Friday, folks! Welcome back to Layup Lines. Thank you so much for joining us today. I hope you had a happy Halloween and have a great weekend ahead of you.

It’s still super early in the NBA season, so it’s probably not the best time to overreact to slow starts for all the teams that aren’t as good as we think they should be at this point. The Denver Nuggets are definitely one of those teams. Denver is 2-2 so far through four games, but could easily be 0-4 after picking up two overtime wins against poor competition early in the season.

It’s not the part of their season that worries me the most. It honestly has nothing to do with the game on the field. Rather, I think the front office’s mentality should raise the eyebrows of Nuggets fans today.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reports that The Nuggets had a chance to get Paul George this offseason but left the option. Why? Because getting George would have required Denver to give up younger players to go with the required salary.

Here’s Shelburne and more.

“League sources said the Nuggets inquired about Paul George this offseason, but talks never escalated because Denver refused to discuss Braun, Watson or Strawther, and the Clippers weren’t interested in solely taking back future salary — likely the $147 million , who owes Porter. and Zeke Nnaji.”

Basically, the Nuggets are hesitant to give up any young pieces, even if it means adding a proven All-Star caliber piece to a championship core.

Here’s the deal. Paul George is by no means a sure bet to help the Nuggets win a championship. He was an All-Star last season, but that was years ago he has been an All-NBA caliber player. He will be 35 years old at the end of this season and his next deal should be very expensive. The Nuggets are wary of the NBA’s second apron, as are many other teams around the league.

BEWARE OF APRON: How the NBA’s second apron sets your favorite teams apart

But here’s the thing: When you have arguably the best player in the NBA on your side, sometimes you just have to go for it. Sometimes that means going after a player like Paul George. Sometimes that means keeping expensive players as is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all around. Sometimes that means letting go of younger guys who could turn out to try to get things done now.

Jokic is 29 years old. He is in the middle of his prime and is coming off a third MVP season in four years. Getting him the best help possible should be the Nuggets’ top priority. That might mean not waiting for Julian Strawther or Payton Watson to make it.

The Nuggets want to have their cake and eat it too. It’s the whole “two timeline” approach that the Warriors tried, but far worse. At least for Golden State, Jordan Poole had developed into a starter. Jonathan Kuminga was a lottery pick. James Wiseman oozed potential.

The Nuggets don’t really have those players. At best, the names on the list are complementary pieces who could contribute greatly this season in bit roles. At worst, they don’t matter.

These are the players Denver is betting on right now. And after such a slow start to the season, it seems the risk far outweighs the reward.

Wemby makes Wemby things

October 9, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) looks up during the first half against the Orlando Magic at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-885373 ORIG FILE ID: 20241009_tbs_da8_159.JPGOctober 9, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) looks up during the first half against the Orlando Magic at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-885373 ORIG FILE ID: 20241009_tbs_da8_159.JPG

October 9, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) looks up during the first half against the Orlando Magic at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-885373 ORIG FILE ID: 20241009_tbs_da8_159.JPG

Speaking of slow starts to the season, Victor Wembanyama certainly had one this year.

The slow start is over after he achieved his second career five-for-five game on Thursday night. He finished the Spurs’ game against Utah with 25 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, five steals and five blocks.

He is the only player in NBA history younger than 22 with a five-on-five game, according to Stat Muse. He also joins Hakeem Olajuwon and Andrei Kirilenko as the only two players in league history to have more than one five-on-five game, per Pod of Fame’s Jim Miloch.

This guy is breaking the NBA.

Shooting

– We discussed Bronny James cuts down the nets after his first basket. This is fun.

— Speaking of the first basket, LeBron was untouched. Cory Woodroof has more on that.

—Robert Zeglinski ranked the best rivalries in the NBA today.

— Wemby refusing to say Chet Holmgren’s name because their rivalry is pretty wild.

It’s a wrap, folks. Thank you very much for reading. Have a nice weekend. Peace.

– Sick

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Nuggets are wasting Nikola Jokic’s time