Things have been a little too quiet in Denver lately. No drama, no trades. No front office chaos. But that silence? Yeah. It just cracked. And the sound? That’s the echo of a power shift happening behind the scenes, right as every other Western Conference team starts sharpening their knives. The defending champs aren’t just tweaking lineups or scouting the draft. This is bigger. The kind of behind-the-curtain shake-up that could ripple all the way down to the franchise’s beating heart: Nikola Jokic.

For fans, it’s the kind of moment you don’t see coming. One minute you’re scrolling through your usual off-season buzz, mock drafts, cap projections, recycled trade rumors. Then bam! Out of nowhere, someone inside the Nuggets decides to say the quiet part out loud. Not about lineups. Not about coaching. We’re talking about decision-making at the top. The real top. And it all went down on X, where the team made one very subtle, very loaded reveal about the future of their franchise star… and the man now making more of the calls.

In a pair of posts that dropped like a mini-earthquake on Nuggets Twitter, the franchise confirmed two major shifts. First, VP Josh Kroenke openly said he’s “definitely” offering Nikola Jokic a contract extension this summer, but admitted the reigning MVP might not accept right away. That honesty? It raised more than a few eyebrows.

“We’re going to explain every financial parameter around him signing now versus later,” Kroenke explained. “We’ll be completely transparent—that’s the way we always are. Then he makes the best decision for himself and his family, and we’ll support him in it.”

But even juicier? The second post. With the Timberwolves luring away Nuggets GM Calvin Booth’s right-hand man, Josh Kroenke revealed he’ll now be taking a much more hands-on approach with basketball decisions. “In times of transition, I need to be a little more hands-on,” he said. Translation? Denver’s front office is undergoing some serious reshuffling. And Jokic’s future just got a little more complicated. He’s talking about new decision-makers Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace, but make no mistake! This is about Jokic too. The reigning MVP may be the face of the franchise, but behind the scenes, Kroenke’s stepping in to make sure the house is in order before any pen hits paper. Especially with another max contract on the line and the Timberwolves turning up the heat from the execs’ table.

And man, the stakes are high. Jokic is currently locked into a massive $276 million deal that runs through the 2027-28 season, with a yearly salary of $55.2 million. He’s 30 now. By the time that contract ends, he’ll be 33. And yeah, he could wait a year to sign an extension and squeeze a few more millions out of it. But here’s the problem: doing so would handcuff the Nuggets’ cap space. Jamal Murray’s extension kicks in soon, and Aaron Gordon’s deal is looming too. If Jokic doesn’t sign early, building a title-contending roster around him becomes nearly impossible under the current CBA. That’s why Kroenke is pressing the issue now. Because if Jokic waits, Denver’s flexibility shrinks. Fast.

So now, while the front office recalibrates and the league watches Denver’s every move, Jokic is back home in Serbia, unplugged and unbothered. And honestly? That’s just classic Jokic. The guy is probably riding horses, sipping coffee, and staying miles away from cap sheet debates. But without a doubt, this decision could shape the entire arc of Denver’s next era. Will he take the more team-friendly route this summer? Or wait a season, see where the team’s headed, and cash in big later? For now, Josh Kroenke’s stepping up. And that’s the clearest sign yet that Denver knows just how big this offseason really is.

The Jokic Decision: Money, Legacy, and a Whole Lot of Pressure

At the heart of all this, of course, is Nikola Jokic. The man who went from 41st overall draft pick to two-time MVP and NBA champion now finds himself holding all the leverage. His current contract? A beast. He’s making over $55 million per season, fully guaranteed, thanks to that 2022 designated veteran extension. He’s got Bird Rights, full cap control, and two of the most powerful agents in the game; Jeff Schwartz and Mike Lindeman of Excel Sports, handling his next move. If you’re wondering who’s steering this ship, it’s Jokic. The Nuggets? They’re just hoping to keep him happy enough to stay the course.

But here’s the wild part. If Jokic doesn’t extend this summer, and instead waits for next offseason, he could unlock even more financial upside under rising cap projections. The downside? Denver’s already tight salary books get crushed even further. With Murray and Gordon set to eat up most of the space, and Michael Porter Jr.’s uncertain future hanging in the balance, any delay makes it way tougher to build depth or pivot if the roster underperforms again. It’s a delicate dance between giving your star max value and protecting your title window.

And while all this unfolds, Jokic is just… chilling. Literally. No quotes, no leaks, no pressure. Just vibes. That’s the Joker way. But the front office doesn’t have that luxury. If this thing drags into next year, and the Nuggets stumble again, the noise gets louder. Suddenly, Jokic waiting doesn’t just look like a smart financial move. It starts to look like a test of faith. And Denver? They better pass.