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Brian Windhorst Reacts to Nikola Jokic Possibly Requesting Nuggets for a Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated May 20, 2025 11:01 AM ET

For the second consecutive season, the Denver Nuggets' campaign concluded with a Game 7 loss in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. This outcome follows their victory in the 2022-23 season, when they won the NBA championship.

One factor contributing to the Nuggets' defeat this season was their lack of depth. During the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, four Nuggets players logged over 35 minutes per game, with two players exceeding 40 minutes. In contrast, the Thunder, one of the deepest teams in the league, had only two players reach those minute thresholds and none who played more than 40 minutes.

Due to this, some feel Denver's star center Nikola Jokic should request a trade this offseason if the roster isn't fixed. ESPN NBA reporter Brian Windhorst, when asked on the "Dan Patrick Show" whether Jokic should question upper management regarding their roster construction, expressed that he believes Jokic should, although he is uncertain if he actually will.

"I would hope that he would say that," Windhorst said. "But I don't know that he would say that. He's never articulated that. He's certainly never done that publicly. I've never heard about that privately. But if you are looking at this team, they're two players short."

Windhorst mentioned that a lack of depth became evident during this postseason. He pointed out that Michael Porter Jr. injured his shoulder but played through it, leaving him looking like a shadow of his usual self. He also noted that Aaron Gordon injured his hamstring at the end of Game 6, yet attempted to play through it in Game 7. Additionally, Jamal Murray was ill during Game 6.

Windhorst believes that the roster's construction is the reason general manager Calvin Booth was fired during the season. While he thinks the top tier of the roster is championship caliber, he argues that the middle and back end are not, which has cost the team over the last two seasons.

The Nuggets are now entering an offseason where they need to reshape their roster. However, they do not have a first-round draft pick this season and only one first-round pick in the next three years. They also lack a second-round pick in the near future, meaning many crucial decisions must be made this offseason.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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