Nuggets plan to work out long-term deal with Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic has been one of the best bargains in the NBA through his first three seasons. The former 41st overall pick came out of nowhere in 2016-17 as the focal point of one of the league’s most efficient offenses. This year, Jokic made a strong case for a spot on an All-NBA team by averaging 18.5 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists.

In the coming months, the Nuggets will have to decide if they want to allow Jokic to play out the final year of his rookie deal for $1.6 million or decline the team option and back up the Brinks truck to keep their budding star in Denver for years to come. On Friday, Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said Denver’s plan is to lock up Jokic to a long-term deal this summer.

“Nikola is going to be here for a very long time,” Connelly said. “The sooner the better. He’s a guy who’s been tremendous in how quickly he’s developed and a guy we love, and he loves Denver. The sooner we can get his signature on a long-term contract the better.”

The Nuggets have until June 29 to make a decision on Jokic’s club option for 2018-19. If they decline it, Jokic will become a restricted free agent July 1. At that point, the Nuggets could match any offer sheet Jokic signs or avoid that altogether by offering him a max deal.

“Our motivation is to get it done sooner rather than later,” Connelly said. “Whatever keeps him here the longest is best for us and best for the team.”

If for some reason Denver picked up the club option for 2018-19, Jokic would become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019. That would mean he’s free to sign with any team he pleases. Based on his comments Friday, Connelly isn’t going to let it get to that point.

“This is the most confident I’ve been in our core group since I’ve been here,” Connelly said. “I think we have the making of a team that can have a sustainably high level of success. Certainly, when you’re on the outside looking in, you have to address some needs. I think there are going to be some pretty interesting financial decisions we’ll make this offseason. Standing in front of you guys now, I think we have a core that can be really good for a long time, who all want to be here and are all about the right things.”

Denver appears to have drafted and developed three franchise cornerstones in Jokic, Gary Harris and Jamal Murray. That trio played a key role in the Nuggets finishing 10 games over .500 for the first time since 2012-13. Denver fell one game short of snapping its four-season playoff drought, falling to Minnesota in overtime of its regular-season finale, but things appear to be headed in the right direction.

“I liked the fight our guys showed, and I thought it foreshadowed a strong core group that’s ready to take the next step,” Connelly said.