LeBron James, Nikola Jokic Nuggets Superteam Floated by NBA Insider amid Free Agency Rumors

Even though most of the speculation about LeBron James teaming up with a future Hall of Famer if he leaves the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency has been centered around a Stephen Curry pairing, some people in the NBA are keeping an eye on Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets as a potential landing spot.

Per ESPN's Dave McMenamin and Tim Bontemps, one Western Conference executive specifically cited Jokić as the type of player whose on-court intelligence could appeal to James.

"Who is the only guy on [James'] level from a basketball IQ standpoint in the league?" the executive asked. "Go there and team up with that guy."

McMenamin and Bontemps added that "multiple" people cited Denver as an intriguing option for James with free agency looming this summer.

The discussion around James' team for the 2026-27 season, assuming he doesn't retire, has largely focused on the Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers. He's obviously very familiar with Los Angeles, having played there for eight seasons now.

Going back to Cleveland for potentially his final season would make for a storybook ending to arguably the greatest career in NBA history.

If James' main priority as a free agent is to find a team that's best suited to allow him to ride off into the sunset with one more championship, the Nuggets would rank high on the list.

Even this season that has seen Jokić not always at his best due to a knee injury that kept him out for a month, he's averaging a triple-double and is almost certain to finish in the top four of MVP voting. Jamal Murray is having the best season of his career. Aaron Gordon is one of the best two-way role players in the league.

One potential factor for James and any interested team is how much will he expect to be paid. A team like the Cavs, can only offer James the veteran minimum because of apron restrictions barring a trade of someone like Donovan Mitchell or Evan Mobley.

The Nuggets face a dilemma because they are already close to the second apron going into 2026-27 with Peyton Watson, who is averaging a career-high 14.8 points on 41.5 percent shooting this season, set to become a free agent.

If James were to take a minimum salary for the right to play with whatever team he prefers, it would mark the largest pay cut for a player in NBA history. The four-time NBA MVP is making $52.6 million from the Lakers this season.

One thing about James is that he's never been one to give money back. Despite reportedly offering to do so at times if it would help his team add more talent, the only time he took less than the max was his sign-and-trade deal to the Miami Heat in the summer of 2010.

James is unlikely to get a max salary this summer because there's not that much money to go around, especially from teams that would presumably appeal to him.

The Lakers are a projected cap space team, but they have a max slot that will likely be earmarked for Austin Reaves if he turns down his player option with the possibility of a five-year extension worth up to $241 million on the table.

Even though it would seem like a long shot to happen, the idea of a James-Jokić-Murray trio in Denver is a lot of fun to think about.