LATEST NEWS: Nikola Jokic’s 2016 Los Angeles Clippers package goes viral

Not everyone thought of Nikola Jokic as the eventual MVP and Finals MVP that we all know and love today.

His distinct style of play made him a gifted young player whose ceiling was unknown to many.

The Nuggets had faith in him, as evidenced by the viral 2016 trade package in which the Clippers attempted to acquire Blake Griffin from the Nuggets in exchange for Jokic.

“The Nuggets received an offer from the Clippers for Blake Griffin and Lance Stephenson in exchange for Kenneth Faried, Danilo Gallinari, Will Barton, and Nikola Jokic.

Denver said no.Fans find this trade offer hilarious, with many not even remembering the offer when it took place.One fan thinks the deal wouldn’t have mattered because the Clippers would have flipped Jokic at some point later on.

One fan in 2016 attacked the Nuggets for turning it down, completely clueless about the historic success Jokic would bring the franchise.

Some smart fans realized in 2016 that the Nuggets turned the offer down because the Clippers asked for Jokic.

Another fan believed in Jokic enough to suggest that the Nuggets traded their other big man at the time, Jusuf Nurkic, instead.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.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. The difference is that Carmelo Anthony left, while Jokic stayed to make the number his and bring the first title in franchise history.NBA History Would Have Changed With This Trade
With an amazing resume that includes two MVP awards and a Finals MVP, Nikola Jokic may go down as the greatest big man of his generation, surpassing players like Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis. However, many did not believe that Jokic would follow this course. It is impossible to predict that he would develop into the Clippers player he is today.

It’s amazing how much the Nuggets have believed in Jokic since selecting him in the 2014 draft. They didn’t get upset when he didn’t deliver results for them; instead, they let him grow at his own speed. The Clippers are known for their star-chasing, so it’s possible that a player like Jokic will be traded in a manner akin to how they traded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Paul George.

Long-term thinking guided the Nuggets’ decisions, and Jokic has cemented his place as the best player in franchise history. He’s had such an impact that one day there will be a statue of him outside their arena. Thank heavens the Nuggets didn’t give that up for one or two more of Blake Griffin’s best seasons prior to his collapse.