Only one thing is off the Nuggets\u2019 table this offseason.<\/p>\n
Last summer, Nuggets president Josh Kroenke tossed out the idea of trading Nikola Jokic as a possible worst-case scenario if the Nuggets ended up in the second apron salary cap and suffered an untimely injury. He didn\u2019t make the same mistake Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything is going to be on the table \u2013 outside of trading Nikola,\u201d Kroenke said at an earlier-than-expected, end-of-season press conference at Ball Arena. \u201cI should be clear, because my words got twisted in an interesting way last summer.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the three-time Most Valuable Player rendered untouchable, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon are the biggest names to monitor once the trade market heats up. Moving on from either won\u2019t be easy. Murray\u2019s coming off his best regular season and arguably worst postseason. Gordon has become a beloved figure at Ball Arena, but his availability has become an issue for a team that doesn\u2019t have much margin for error.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy job in this organization is to help make decisions without emotion,\u201d Kroenke said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI love Aaron Gordon. I know that I think the world of him, just like the entire Nuggets nation does, but there are some things that we\u2019re going to have to look at. This team looks a lot different when Aaron Gordon is healthy. I think everybody can acknowledge that. We need a healthy Aaron Gordon, so we need to figure out how to make the most of him and get the most out of his body for the benefit of the team, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Keeping the core together is another option. Depending on the extent the Nuggets decide to run it back would almost certainly leave the Nuggets in one of the punitive aprons. Denver could also reset its status as a \u201crepeater\u201d team by sitting below the apron for a second consecutive season.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything is on the table. \u2026 if we deem running it back the most competitive thing that we can do for the roster, that\u2019s probably what we\u2019re going to be doing,\u201d Kroenke said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe smartest teams can figure out how to stay competitive while having to make some of those cutthroat moves at different points in time.\u201d<\/p>\n
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