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David Zalubowski / Associated Press
The Denver Nuggets would refuse their team option on Nikola Jokic as a first step toward negotiating a larger extension, according to Shams Charania from Yahoo Sports.
With the move to Denver, the center will become a restricted free agent, and both parties should reach an agreement on a maximum contract of $ 146.5 million over five years.
Jokic's 2018-19 option is worth $ 1.6 million.
The exercise of the option would allow the Nuggets to keep a leading player at a minimal cost, but that would hurt the team's chances of recruiting him as an unrestricted free agent in 2019.
Nick Kosmider of The Athletic broke the situation in May:
Nick Kosmider @NickKosmider
The agent Nikola Jokic said that choosing the option of the player and letting Jokic become an unrestricted free agent in 2019 would be an unfavorable scenario for Nuggets. This is not a warning. It's common sense. Denver will not miss the opportunity to block Jokic. The writing is on the wall.
President of Basketball Activities, Nuggets, Tim Connelly, made it clear that he intended to lock the 23-year-old into a long-term contract.
"Nikola is going to be here for a long time," Connelly told reporters Thursday. "I think whatever we do, we'll make sure it's there for as long as possible."
Jokic was one of the NBA's top men last season, averaging 18.5 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game, all career highs. He also led the Nuggets in each category as the team finished a playoff game.
Although his salary was relatively low at this point as a second-round pick in the 2014 draft, he's heading for a big raise next season.
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