Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic drew interest from an unexpected suitor this offseason, though the pursuit ended quickly. Panathinaikos owner Dimitrios Giannakopoulos revealed on the “Euro Insiders” podcast that he pitched the Nuggets on buying out the final guaranteed year of Jokic’s contract, hoping to bring the three time NBA MVP to Athens. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Denver turned down the offer almost instantly.
Owner Says Rejection Came Within Seconds
Giannakopoulos explained that his club made a genuine proposal to both Jokic and the Nuggets, only to be turned down right away. He added that he understood Jokic still had one season left on his deal. As a result, Denver reportedly dismissed the pitch in a matter of seconds, though he plans to try again once Jokic reaches unrestricted free agency. Meanwhile, Jokic has said he intends to remain with Denver for the rest of his career, and he has held off on signing an extension so he can qualify for a larger deal next summer. Overall, that patience could net him roughly 80 million dollars more than the four year extension available this offseason.
Nuggets Navigate a Tightening Budget
At the same time, Denver faces mounting financial pressure elsewhere on the roster. After matching Oklahoma City’s two year, 12 million dollar offer sheet for Spencer Jones, the Nuggets pushed their projected luxury tax bill up by roughly 32 million dollars and moved into the league’s second apron. Consequently, that squeeze complicates negotiations with restricted free agent Peyton Watson, who is reportedly seeking around 25 million dollars per year while Denver’s offers have landed well below that mark.
This is not Giannakopoulos’ first attempt to lure a Nuggets center overseas. Last year, he tried to buy out the final two seasons of Jonas Valančiūnas’ contract, but Valančiūnas ultimately stayed in Denver before being waived after the season. He later signed with Lithuanian club Zalgiris Kaunas.
