Will Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic eventually join forces?

When could Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic eventually join forces?

Jokic begins a contract extension next season with the Nuggets that is set to pay him $272 million over five years. Even with his player option, the two-time MVP cannot become a free agent until 2028. He is locked in with the Nuggets long-term and requesting a trade is his only way out of Denver for the next five years.

Luka Doncic is in the first year of an extension that pays him $215 million over five years. He has a player option in the final year that allows him to become a free agent in 2026.

The 23-year-old just got a new superstar teammate in Kyrie Irving, but that move has boom-or-bust potential. The eight-time All-Star was just part of a super team in Brooklyn that broke up after winning just one playoff series. If things go south with Irving, Doncic could be the one requesting a trade out of Dallas.

Luka could put serious pressure on the Mavericks with a trade request in the summer of 2024. He appears happy in Dallas, but if things go sour, the Mavs would have to consider trading him away with just two years left on his deal.

Luka Doncic would not be the first superstar to force a trade to a specific team, and the Denver Nuggets would certainly give up a massive haul to land a generational talent. Does their friendship eventually lead to them teaming up?