Nikola Jokic wasn’t always regarded as the future MVP and Finals MVP we know him as today. He was once a talented young player that people didn’t know the ceiling of due to his unique play style. The Nuggets believed in him, as a 2016 trade package of the Clippers trying to trade Blake Griffin to the Nuggets in a deal that gets them Jokic has gone viral.
“Clippers offered Blake Griffin & Lance Stephenson to the Nuggets for (Kenneth) Faried, (Danilo) Gallinari, Will Barton & Nikola Jokic. Denver declined.”
Clippers offered Blake Griffin & Lance Stephenson to the Nuggets for Faried, Gallinari, Will Barton & Nikola Jokic. Denver declined. (ESPN)
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 15, 2016
Fans find this trade offer hilarious, with many not even remembering the offer when it took place.
Totally forgot this happened lol https://t.co/z6cRl1rO95
— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) November 14, 2023
One fan thinks the deal wouldn’t have mattered because the Clippers would have flipped Jokic at some point later on.
The clippers probably would’ve traded jokic at that point in time lol
— Joseph Sandoval (@JoeSandoval_5) November 14, 2023
One fan in 2016 attacked the Nuggets for turning it down, completely clueless about the historic success Jokic would bring the franchise.
@MySportsLegion How to Stay Mediocre by the Denver Nuggets
— E D (@edtg123) February 15, 2016
Some smart fans realized in 2016 that the Nuggets turned the offer down because the Clippers asked for Jokic.
@MySportsLegion Kinda believe able that Denver declined because they added Jokic in there. They're not trading him.
— Curtis (@SkillazKill) February 15, 2016
Another fan believed in Jokic enough to suggest that the Nuggets traded their other big man at the time, Jusuf Nurkic, instead.
https://twitter.com/curtismjordan/status/699286948368613376
One fan in 2023 thinks this was the best outcome for Jokic, saying that the center dodged a missile by not becoming a part of the Clippers.
Jokic dodged not a bullet but a missile
— Bekk (@bekkRMA) November 14, 2023
Looking back at the trade, this offer just seems insane from both sides. Even though it started to become clear after the 2015 Playoffs that Blake Griffin couldn’t lead the Clippers to a title, offering him to Denver for a package where their best-returning player at the time was Danilo Gallinari is insane. Unless the Clippers knew what they were doing and were willing to part with Griffin to unlock the potential that Jokic had.
Jokic was a rookie that season and was averaging 9.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists up until the trade report came out. The Nuggets would soon commit to building around Jokic, trading away Jusuf Nurkic to the Blazers to open up center minutes for Jokic.
Safe to say, that was the best decision they ever made, as Jokic went on to live up to the potential Nuggets fans thought No. 15 always had. The difference is that Carmelo Anthony left, while Jokic stayed to make the number his and bring the first title in franchise history.
This Trade Would’ve Altered NBA History
Nikola Jokic may be remembered as the single greatest big man of his generation, outpacing the likes of Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis with an incredible resume that sees him as a two-time MVP and a Finals MVP. But this wasn’t the path many thought Jokic was going to go down. We can’t even say that he would become the player he is today on the Clippers.
The faith that the Nuggets have shown in Jokic since drafting him in 2014 is incredible. They let him develop at his pace and didn’t overreact when he couldn’t bring them results. Given the star-hunting nature of the Clippers, it’s likely we see a player like Jokic get moved in a similar way the franchise moved Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Paul George.
The Nuggets had a long-term vision and Jokic has solidified his status as the greatest player in franchise history. He will have a statue outside their arena one day, such has been his impact. Thank God that the Nuggets didn’t trade that away for a season or two of prime Blake Griffin before his downfall.
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