SHOCKING: Nuggets' Bizarre Two-GM Strategy Could DESTROY Jokić's Championship Window - What Josh Kroenke Is Really Hiding
The Denver Nuggets just pulled off one of the most head-scratching front office moves in recent NBA history, and insiders are already whispering that this could be the beginning of the end for Nikola Jokić's championship aspirations in Denver.
The Stunning Two-GM Gamble That Has NBA Executives Baffled
After firing both his championship-winning coach Michael Malone and basketball operations director Calvin Booth in April - citing the need for "one voice" and unified leadership - Josh Kroenke has done the unthinkable. Instead of hiring a single general manager, he's created what critics are calling a "Dunder Mifflin-style" management disaster by appointing two co-GMs: Ben Tenzer as executive vice president of basketball operations and Jon Wallace as executive vice president of player personnel.
The move has left NBA insiders scratching their heads. If Kroenke wanted one voice, why did he create a system that practically guarantees confusion and power struggles? Sources close to the organization suggest this could be Kroenke's way of maintaining ultimate control while appearing to delegate authority.
The Ticking Time Bomb: Jokić's $212.5 Million Decision
Here's where things get truly explosive: Nikola Jokić becomes eligible to sign a massive three-year, $212.5 million contract extension in just two weeks. With the franchise's leadership structure now in complete flux, will the three-time MVP feel confident enough to commit his prime years to an organization that appears to be operating without a clear chain of command?
The timing couldn't be worse. Christian Braun and Peyton Watson are also up for extensions this summer, with Braun's salary potentially skyrocketing from $4.9 million to anywhere between $15-30 million annually. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are already projected to have four starters making at least $30 million in the 2026-27 season, creating a salary cap nightmare that requires surgical precision to navigate.
The Western Conference Arms Race That Could Leave Denver Behind
While the Nuggets fumble with their organizational structure, their Western Conference rivals are making power moves that could permanently shift the balance of power:
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Houston Rockets just acquired Kevin Durant - arguably the best pure scorer of his generation
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Oklahoma City Thunder, no longer "too young," are sitting on a treasure trove of draft capital
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Memphis Grizzlies have added Cole Anthony and former Nugget Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
As one NBA analyst ominously warned: "The Western Conference is like a shark. If you're not constantly moving, constantly looking, you're dead in the water."
The Pattern That Should Terrify Nuggets Fans
Perhaps most concerning is the Kroenkes' troubling pattern with general managers. While they've shown an eye for talent - hiring future stars like Masai Ujiri, Tim Connelly, and Calvin Booth before they became household names - they've struggled mightily with retention. Each of these GMs eventually moved on, taking their expertise elsewhere.
Now, with a co-GM structure that resembles a corporate comedy more than a championship organization, the question becomes: Will this be the move that finally pushes Jokić to demand a trade?
The Bottom Line: The next five months won't just shape the upcoming season - they could determine whether the Nuggets remain a championship contender or become another cautionary tale of organizational dysfunction destroying a generational talent's prime years.
With Jokić's extension deadline looming and the Western Conference arms race intensifying, Josh Kroenke's latest gamble might be the riskiest move in franchise history. The clock is ticking, and for once, time might not be on Denver's side.