Lakers Nikola Jokic trade and free agency speculation, Digi Mart USA News: The Los Angeles Lakers have long been among the NBA’s most successful teams at landing superstar talent, whether through trades or free agency, as shown by the arrivals of LeBron James in 2018 and Luka Doncic in 2025. In the Doncic era, the Lakers have Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler as their other notable players.
According to one recent major report, the team could be getting closer to adding one of the best players in NBA history: Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. Los Angeles has previously been linked to Jokic over the past year, largely because of his friendship with Doncic.
Following new speculation that the Serbian could leave Denver, either through free agency next summer or by asking for a trade, the Lakers may be moving closer to pursuing the three-time MVP and 2023 NBA Finals winner.
Two weeks into the 2026-27 season, Jokic’s future in Denver has been called into question. According to an article by Howard Beck of The Ringer, speculation about Jokic leaving next summer, when his contract expires, or asking for a trade this season has increased.
Jokic has also been involved in arguments with the fanbase and has delayed signing a contract extension that would make him the highest-paid player in league history.
An unnamed executive told Beck: “They’ve obviously struggled to build around him since the championship because of the financial constraints.” The executive added: “Do they finally just say: All right, he’s 31 now; do we just pull the trigger because he’s got a huge extension coming up this summer, and then it’s going to be even harder to build around the guy?”
Beck wrote that if conditions in Denver deteriorated significantly, Jokic could decline his $62 million option next summer and explore free agency. He also noted that Jokic lashing out at Nuggets fans for booing during the season’s opening week suggested a player losing patience.
Beck added that the situation is not there yet.
Jokic is under contract for the rest of the season and holds a player option for next year. The unnamed executive said teams across the league are prepared to pursue him if he is ready for a change: “Twenty-nine executives are not doing their job if they’re not constantly thinking about how to get Jokić on their team.”
Earlier, Sam Quinn of CBS Sports suggested the Lakers could either trade for Jokic or add him in free agency. Quinn wrote last summer that both Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo are set to become free agents in 2027, and that the Lakers’ cap space could give them leverage.
He added that if matters went poorly in Denver, Jokic would have a close friend waiting in Los Angeles. The friendship between Doncic and Jokic is well documented.
Tyler Watts also discussed Jokic as a possible addition for the Lakers, noting that the Nuggets traded Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers for what he described as virtually nothing. Watts wrote that the Lakers would love to add Jokic and that the odds of landing him improved after that trade.
To be clear, Jokic remains with the Nuggets, and reporting on his future is still at the rumor stage. The next few months could be important for Denver as it tries to keep the franchise’s best player in the Mile High City, while the Lakers remain a prominent potential destination.
