Golden State Warriors players won't have to wait long to get in the ear of Nikola Jokic, with the Denver Nuggets set to host the visitors in the fourth game of the season at Ball Arena on October 25.
While it seems like an impossible dream, speculation is already mounting that Jokic could be Golden State's next dream target after notably missing out on Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James this summer.
Warriors won't have to wait long to recruit Nikola Jokic
There'll be an even bigger focus on Jokic and Denver next season given the opportunity for the three-time MVP to opt out his 2027-28 player option and become an unrestricted free agent. The strong likelihood is that Jokic is simply waiting and will opt out to ensure he can sign a full five-year max contract at nearly $360 million, but rumors will continue to surface until such time as that takes place.
Warrior forward Draymond Green is already recognizing the talk surrounding Jokic, even mentioning it on his podcast recently with Golden State also slated to face Denver in a marquee matchup on Christmas Day.
"There's been a lot of talk about Joker in San Francisco as of late, I've been reading. I'm sure they'll be a ton of talk by then, by Christmas Day, depending on how the teams are doing," Green said.
The next question is actually who would be pitching to Jokic about a move to the Warriors? Superstar guard Stephen Curry would be the only one with the stature to do such a thing, with Green's own Golden State future up in the air while Jimmy Butler presumably won't be on the road trip as he recovers from injury.
Warriors project to have cap space to chase Nikola Jokic
The only reason the Warriors can even theoretically target Jokic is because their own roster is so uncertain, with only a handful of players contracted for the 2027-28 season or beyond. That leaves Golden State with the projected cap room to chase Jokic if there's even a slight chance he becomes available, unless they use their expiring contracts on other players before the mid-season deadline.
The Warriors would need the Nuggets to fall in a major hole for Jokic to consider departing the team that drafted him 12 years ago. What better way to start that by defeating Denver on the road in what would undoubtedly be a surprise early season outcome?
The Warriors haven't beaten the Nuggets in Denver since March 2020, giving them an opportunity to end that hoodoo while trying to convince Jokic that a move to the Bay Area is worth pondering over the next 10-12 months.
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