Nikola Jokic Trade Rumors: Latest News and Speculation on Nuggets C
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is reportedly part of a package the Los Angeles Clippers are demanding in a tantalizing trade proposition.
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Jokic Included in Deal Featuring Blake Griffin, Others
Monday, Feb. 15
Chris Broussard of ESPN.com (via BasketballInsiders.com's Tommy Beer) reported ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline the Clippers offered up Blake Griffin and Lance Stephenson for Jokic, Kenneth Faried, Will Barton and Danilo Gallinari.
Although Griffin is one of the premier players in the game, he'd come at a steep cost that would feature an underrated notable in Jokic. The 20-year-old big man is averaging 9.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists this season in only 20 minutes per game.
What makes Jokic unique is he has range that extends to the three-point line—he's made 16 of 41 attempts (39 percent) from beyond the arc in 2015-16—and still has immense room to improve.
Faried even spoke to Bleacher Report's Adam Fromal recently about how he admires Jokic's game.
"That kid is gonna get paid a lot if he just keeps the course, because he just brings a different aspect," Faried said. "He can step out and shoot the three. He makes his free throws down the stretch. He plays great defense. Rebounds the ball. He's just coming into his own."
Utah Jazz personality David Locke provided an interesting statistic to show just how much of an impact Jokic, a former second-round draft pick, is making:
The Nuggets have endured seven- and six-game losing streaks this season yet still have a record of 22-32. Those slumps—and emerging from them stronger—help bring a young core together, which is what appears to be happening in Denver.
Dealing Jokic away, not to mention a budding stud on the wing in Barton, a steady starting five staple in Faried and a dynamic scorer in Gallinari, seems less than ideal under the circumstances of Griffin's recent altercation. Griffin broke his hand after punching a Clippers equipment manager and may still face disciplinary consequences from the NBA.
Jokic is on an extremely cheap contract for the time being, adding incentive to keep him. Giving the gifted Serbian to a contender in the Clippers would hinder the Nuggets' own efforts of ascending in the deep Western Conference as well.
