Kevin O’Connor reports Nikola Jokic plans to stay in Denver on a projected five-year, $360 million deal. Stephen Curry’s two-year, $116 million extension left nearly $20 million on the table to give Golden State flexibility, potentially creating up to $64 million in cap space.
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor said league sources he has consulted over the years and in recent weeks do not expect Jokic to leave Denver. He compared a projected $267 million four-year offer elsewhere with about $278 million over four years in Denver, plus roughly $82 million guaranteed in Denver’s fifth year. A team in a state without income tax could narrow the gap, and O’Connor said a better chance to win elsewhere could matter if Denver cannot return to contention.
Golden State plans to reshape the roster around Curry next summer as Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler come off the books. If it misses on a marquee free agent, the Warriors could pursue alternatives including Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Tyler Herro, Dejounte Murray, Fred VanVleet, Cameron Johnson and Brandon Ingram; some insiders say a major move could come as early as February’s trade deadline.
