Nikola Jokic Next Team Odds: Is Michael Malone’s Firing a Sign of Change?

The Denver Nuggets’ decision to fire coach Michael Malone just weeks before the NBA playoffs has led oddsmakers to create a list of next team odds for three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. 

The Nuggets, who were recently the second seed in the Western Conference, are at risk of falling to the Play-In Tournament thanks to their losing record since the All-Star break and amid the relentless competition for position in the conference. That and the general fracturing of the team’s chemistry have put the once-iron-clad future of Jokic into doubt.

The Los Angeles Lakers are unsurprising favorites to land the Serbian superstar if he moves out of Mile-High. 

Here’s a complete look at Nikola Jokic's next team odds.

Nikola Jokic Next Team Odds

Nikola Jokic Next Team: Top Picks

Los Angeles Lakers (+500)

The Lakers shocked the world by acquiring Luka Doncic, who has a close relationship with Jokic. They have been one of the best teams in the league over the past couple of months and could soon be NBA champions if the chips fall their way. However, the Lakers would likely need LeBron James to take a pay cut and to part with Austin Reaves, a slew of their best role players, and draft picks to facilitate a trade.

KK Mega Basket (+600) and KK Joker (+800)

Both teams are part of the Adriatic Basketball Association, which includes clubs from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia. Jokic played for KK Mega Basket from 2012-15 before he came to the NBA, and KK Joker is named after his nickname “The Joker.” He also spends most of his free time back in his homeland of Serbia and has made it clear that he does not view NBA success as the end-all-be-all in his career. 

Toronto Raptors (+1000)

The Raptors have a variety of attractive trade pieces, such as Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley, all of whom would be put on the trade block for a chance to land Jokic. They made a decisive move to trade for Kawhi Leonard in 2018 and were rewarded with an NBA Finals trophy less than one year later.

Los Angeles Clippers (+1200)

Clippers owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is the richest owner in the league with an estimated net worth of $123 billion. He’s shown an unwavering commitment to employing superstars, whether that be Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, or James Harden, and wouldn’t hesitate to pull whatever strings he could to land Jokic. 

Will the Denver Nuggets Trade Nikola Jokic?

No, this is not a Luka Doncic situation. There’s been no suggestion that the Nuggets are fed up with Jokic’s behavior or commitment to the team, no matter how much more interest he may display in his horse racing team than his NBA 9-5.

The Dallas Mavericks believed they couldn’t win with Doncic, according to their brass. Jokic already led the Nuggets to the franchise’s first world championship in the 2022-23 season and claimed three MVP trophies over his career.

Jokic’s name was only linked to other teams after Denver made the wildly unexpected move to fire both Malone and general manager Calvin Booth on April 8, less than two weeks before the NBA playoffs.

As if that decision wasn’t shocking enough, it becomes even more unexpected when examining the history of the ownership group, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, led by Stan Kroenke. 

The Kroenke’s also own the Los Angeles Rams, Colorado Avalanche, and Arsenal FC. They only fired a total of eight coaches in the last 15 years across those four organizations, with Malone becoming the unfortunate eighth. 

It’s safe to assume the situation inside the Nuggets’ locker room was dire, based on that precedent. Reports suggested that a toxic work environment had been created with players believing that Jokic and Jamal Murray weren’t coached as hard as others, Malone and Booth weren’t on speaking terms, and the players’ relationships with each other had been strained. 

The team’s poor defense has also been a constant hindrance with them ranking just 20th in points allowed per 100 possessions.

The Denver Post reported that the team informed Jokic they were firing Malone, who had been Jokic’s only head coach throughout his entire career, and he did not offer any pushback.

Jokic is under contract through the 2026-27 season and has a player option for 2027-28. He will be eligible for a three-year extension after the upcoming NBA Finals.