Jokic is looking forward to the strongest helper? The Nuggets are planning a shocking deal, and Durant joins the championship directly

The Denver Nuggets have just experienced a season full of variables. They fired head coach Michael Malone with three games left in the regular season, but the team showed a new energy under the World's Best Player Nikola Jokic and interim head coach David Adelman.

This momentum continued into the playoffs, where they eliminated the Clippers in seven games and tried their best in the second round with the No. 1 Western Conference Thunder. Now, with Adelman officially becoming a regular and the lineup needs to be strengthened, Denver is about to usher in a critical offseason.

The Nuggets urgently need to equip Jokic with more stable helpers this summer. Whether it is tapping the potential of young players such as Julian Strauser and Payton Watson, or signing through trading markets, Denver cannot stand still. ESPN reporter Shams Charania once predicted that this summer will be one of the craziest offseasons ever, and if the Nuggets try to acquire a star who is waiting to be sold, it will undoubtedly add to the craze.

Nuggets and Durant: A match made by heaven

Durant and the Suns are expected to part ways this summer, and the forward will have many suitors at that time, especially in the West. Although he is about to usher in his 19th season of his NBA career, Durant averaged 27 points per game last season, shooting 53% from the field and 43% from three-pointers. He reached the "50/40" shooting threshold for the seventh time in his career, and there is obviously plenty of fuel in the fuel tank.

The Nuggets need to maximize the championship window during Jokic's peak period, and increasing the scoring points around him is a priority. Although Jamal Murray has performed well in the playoffs, as the team's second choice, his stability is far from meeting the standards. If Durant can be obtained, it will not only share the pressure for Jokic, reduce the team's dependence on the "Jokic-Murray" duo-transfer tactics, but also significantly increase the offensive ceiling.

However, can the Nuggets really complete this deal? The Suns are currently at the second salary limit line and cannot accept more players than they give away or afford higher salaries. This means that the Nuggets' Michael Porter must be one of the bargaining chips, but are the Suns willing to take over Porter's premium contract and injury history beyond Bradley Bill's contract?

In addition, the Nuggets do not own first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029, and only control the 2026 and 2028 draft picks - and they are likely to be still in the championship period in these two years, so the Suns are likely not interested in these draft picks.

If the Nuggets want to get Durant, they must show creativity, and whether through three-party or even four-party transactions, they need to try boldly. The competition in the West will only get more intense, and they have the best players in the world today, and Jokic's peak is passing.

The Nuggets cannot waste Jokic's golden years, and introducing Durant is a cautious and necessary choice. The question now is whether the newly appointed general manager this summer has the courage to push the deal?