The NBA offers the best and the worst of surprises to those who wish to take them. If the Luka-Davis trade was to be named brutally, it wasn’t a trade, but either of the camps dumped what they felt was no longer important. Then came the axe to HC Taylor Jenkins of the Grizzlies. Oh, it didn’t stop there as the Denver Nuggets’ sudden decision to part ways with head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth left fans stunned. No warning. No easy answers. The future? Still unclear. With so much up in the air, Nikola Jokic stepped up to make a confession. One that might just offer a glimmer of hope to the fanbase. A reason for them to believe again.

So here’s the thing, there has been a lot of chatter about what’ next for the Nuggets. But Jokic kept it real. He hinted that there could be a shift in the locker room. A change in leadership. But don’t worry, he’s not going anywhere, at least that’s what he conveyed. In fact, he said he’d welcome the change, and he’s sure the rest of the team would too.

The Serbian star was talking about Christian Braun, who has impressed not just with his performance but also with his leadership qualities. “I think he has a potential, not a potential, I think in the next years he’s going to be a leader for us,” Nikola Jokic told the media yesterday. He went on to praise Braun’s communication skills and positive attitude, pointing out how engaged he is with the team. “Be vocal, be positive. You can see he’s always talking to the guys. I think that’s something that I can see him in the future, being the leader of this team,” the 3x MVP added. So safe to assume the locker Nuggets are here to support Braun?

Yes, Jokic also made it clear that Braun has the full support of the locker room and his own. “I think nobody has anything against that, we’re going to accept him as that. I think that’s who he is,” Jokic explained. “Just because he’s a winner, I think we don’t have a player like him in our team. I like to play with him, he’s really good.”

So, Nikola Jokic confirmed that someone else might soon help carry the heavy load of the Nuggets, while he continues doing what he does best. Well, that alone is enough to lift fans’ spirits. But that’s not all. There’s even more brewing about the Nuggets’ future that just came to light.

National reporter reveals Nuggets’ trade plans

After the firings, the team is reportedly eyeing a revamp, and a roster shake-up is expected. But there’s one player who might be in the safe zone, despite being linked to trade rumors — Michael Porter Jr. The reason? It’s all about the ties. Apparently, Porter shares a deep connection with the Nuggets’ ownership.

According to Marc Stein’s report, “The Kroenkes have a fondness for Porter that stems from deep ties to their shared alma mater: Missouri.” The insider further added, “Sources with knowledge of Denver’s thinking have maintained for some time that they struggled to envision ownership ever approving a deal that would send Porter away from the franchise.”

While there’s no doubt about Porter’s abilities, his defense hasn’t exactly helped the Nuggets’ cause. The Pelicans have reportedly shown strong interest in him already. However, a trade involving him might not be on the cards, as his connection runs deep within the organization. Also, he inked a $179 million contract in 2021, which binds him to the Nuggets for five years.

That means the franchise might have to make other changes around Nikola Jokic this summer. Right now, the roster doesn’t look strong enough for a serious championship run. Sure, Jokic can carry them through the regular season with maximum effort, like he has done before. But without a star player alongside him, the team’s thin depth could end up holding them back from another shot at glory. But never write off anyone, it takes a few good games to win it all, and the Nuggets might end up being the ultimate boss.