Nuggets declare Jokic’s time now

Nikola Jokic made the Nuggets do it. All hail the Joker! Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly hunkered down in a Tampa, Fla., hotel and wouldn’t take no for an answer until Orlando agreed to trade Aaron Gordon to Denver. With appreciation for his 27 points per game and a touch on deep passes so deft he makes NFL quarterbacks drool, Jokic took his game to a whole new level with this big trade.

It’s a testament to not only Joker’s immense influence on the Nuggets but his emerging stature as an NBA power broker.

At long last (not to mention long overdue), Connelly pushed his trade chips to the center of the table during the final hours before the league’s trade dead

line expired Thursday afternoon. And make no mistake. Connelly and general manager Calvin Booth gambled on Gordon, whose amazing 39-inch vertical leap has never quite allowed the 6-foot-9 forward to reach his full potential during an uneven pro career.

Betting heavily this team’s time to win a championship is now, the Nuggets pried open their window of opportunity. No more “wait until next year.” Time is precious. By no later than late 2023, and perhaps as early as next summer, the prime time for Jokic and the gang to shine will be gone.

While kudos are in order for the bold ambition demonstrated by Connelly and Booth for elbowing their way to the front during the Magic’s everythingmust-go sale, it says here Jokic deserves the real credit for getting the deal done.

Here’s my logic: What sense would it make to employ the current odds-on favorite to be named league MVP if the Nuggets were not legit contenders to survive the wild, wild West and compete against K.D., Giannis or Joel Embiid for the Larry O’Brien trophy?

Maybe it’s a leap to believe Gordon is the last roster upgrade between the Nuggets and their first victory parade through the streets of our dusty old cowtown.

But of this much I’m darn-tootin’ certain: As thrilling as it has been to see Jokic grow into an elite player in full, he wasn’t going to carry this group of Nuggets all the way to a championship, a dream that required more help than Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. could provide.

That’s why Connelly really had little choice except to take a chance on Gordon’s 100% buyin with this franchise’s carefully crafted locker room culture and the fussy defensive demands of coach Michael Malone.

The package of assets sent to the Magic — highly valued young player R.J. Hampton, oftinjured guard Gary Harris and a 2025 first-round draft choice — was a small price to pay, especially if you considered the real possibility of a early-round exit from this year’s playoffs. And that disappointment would’ve been a huge waste of the greatest individual season in team history.

OK, this trade falls short of blockbuster status, because Gordon is not Jrue Holiday or Bradley Beal, two objects of Denver’s desire in the past. It would be a stretch to rank Gordon among the top 50 players in the league.

Although he can defend four positions, comparisons to Draymond Green are pure fantasy. As the fourth overall pick of the 2014 draft, Gordon’s offensive tools have never caught up with his jaw-dropping athleticism. But view him as a discount version of Pascal Siakam, and it’s easy to see why the Nuggets are intrigued.

The advanced analytics also suggest his powerful efficiency to finish at the rim and strong ability at converting catch-andshoot opportunities make Gordon an ideal fit with Jokic, in much the same manner surehanded Broncos receivers who accepted their roles got rich playing alongside Peyton Manning.

The bounce in Gordon’s defensive game should allow Porter to concentrate more on being a stretch 4, while also shifting Will Barton to more favorable assignments against guards closer to his own size. And, at long last, maybe the Nuggets can finally acknowledge veteran forward Paul Millsap’s best role is to offer sage advice on the team plane.

I applaud the deal as the ultimate sign of respect for Jokic. He doesn’t have the king-making power of LeBron James, whose mere presence on a roster has magnetic appeal for players craving a ring.

But isn’t the new flex in Joker’s game obvious?

More so than Malone or the coaching staff, it’s Jokic who will be expected to maximize Gordon’s productivity. At age 26, in the heart of his prime, Jokic has earned the respect, demanding Denver build to specifications that make that adorably goofy smile fill the face of its superstar center. Even the addition of our old friend JaVale McGee, the smaller piece of business on a busy day of wheeling and dealing, should allow Jokic to rest easier on the bench.

This is his team and his house. If Joker isn’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.