Denver Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke laid out the franchise’s offseason priorities on Friday, signaling that the organization is open to nearly every roster adjustment while maintaining a clear red line around its star center.
During a press conference, Kroenke discussed salary cap constraints, roster flexibility, and the fallout from a season that ended earlier than anticipated—a first-round playoff exit in six games against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Nuggets finished the 2025–26 regular season with a 54–28 record, powered by another MVP-caliber campaign from Nikola Jokic, who averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists over 65 games. Despite his efforts, Denver’s postseason run fell short, as offensive flow and perimeter shooting broke down against Minnesota.
Kroenke pointed to the team’s financial structure as a key factor in recent roster decisions, including last summer’s trade of Michael Porter Jr., which dismantled parts of the championship core and moved the team away from a three-max-contract model.
“I think when discussing the luxury tax, you’re also talking about flexibility. So when you look at our team salary and what we did last summer, I give a lot of credit to our front office. We finally broke up the core, you could say, of players who brought the first championship to Denver,” Kroenke said. “With the league’s changing rules and system, we had to take a hard look at our salary commitments. It became clear that having three max players probably wasn’t sustainable for us going forward. I love Michael as a person and a player, but we felt the organization needed that move to maintain roster depth going forward.”
He stressed that the decisions were aimed at long-term flexibility rather than short-term trades, noting Denver didn’t find a move worth sacrificing future assets.
The Nuggets’ core now revolves around Jokic and Jamal Murray, who averaged 25.4 points and 7.1 assists in the regular season before stepping up his usage in the playoffs. However, the supporting cast has undergone significant turnover, with multiple rotation changes disrupting continuity.
Kroenke acknowledged the team’s inconsistency and linked it to a lack of rhythm during a season marked by change and injuries. He cited the inability to fully solidify an identity before April.
“I think everything is on the table except trading Nikola… We have to consider running it back as a possibility. This season, in many ways, was the season that never was, because this group never got a fair chance to build any rhythm given the amount of turnover and change we had last year,” he said.
The Nuggets’ offseason now enters a wide-open phase, with Kroenke confirming that “everything’s on the table,” including the possibility of maintaining the current roster structure. Reports indicate Denver’s front office is evaluating multiple internal and external options without a set timeline for final decisions.
Despite speculation about cost control, Kroenke pushed back against the idea that limiting coaching or team spending is a fixed mandate, reinforcing that competitive balance and flexibility remain top priorities.
What remains unchanged is the franchise’s stance on its cornerstone. Jokic is not involved in any trade discussions, anchoring both the present and future of the team as Denver looks to recalibrate after an uneven title defense.
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