1 trade the Nuggets have to continue after Nikola Jokic’s injury

For Denver Nuggetseverything starts and ends with Nikola Jokic. Their attack, their identity and their championship ceiling revolve around the unique brilliance of the Serbian superstar. That’s why Jokic’s recent knee injury didn’t just seem like a routine setback. It felt existential. The Nuggets are still big contenders. Without their engine, however, they suddenly look vulnerable in a brutal Western Conference race. If Denver wants to survive this stretch and protect its championship aspirations, there is one trade it must make. He can’t afford to hesitate.

Denver’s dream season, until it wasn’t

The Nuggets have enjoyed a very successful start to the 2025–26 NBA season. They currently have a strong record of 23–10 and occupy third place in the Western Conference. That success was almost entirely fueled by Jokić. He once again authored a season that defied conventional analysis. In 32 games, Jokic averaged 29.6 points, leading the league in rebounds with 12.2 per game and assists with 11.0 per game. Of course, he did it on the efficiency of the elite. Denver’s offense hummed with surgical precision. Even with minor injuries elsewhere on the roster, the Nuggets looked like a team built for another deep playoff run.

Then came the blow. In the recent loss to the Miami Heat, Jokic suffered a left knee hyperextension followed by a bone bruise. That injury will keep him out for at least four weeks and likely cost him around 16 games. The implications are huge. Denver now faces a problem that could drastically affect their playoff berth in the tight West. Jokic’s MVP candidacy also hangs in the balance due to minimum game requirements. Backup center Jonas Valanciunas is also injuredThe Nuggets suddenly find themselves thin, reactive and dangerously exposed in the middle.

Denver can’t just wait

The Nuggets could try to tread water. They can rely on Jamal Murray’s shot creation, and hope Tim Hardaway Jr. carries the scoring. Of course, they are also hoping that Aaron Gordon can return from his own injury as soon as possible. It’s a gamble that borders on recklessness. Without Jokic, Denver is losing its defensive anchoroffensive hub and late-game safety valve. The numbers are clear: Denver struggles to maintain efficiency and defensive structure when forced into extended minutes without Jokic. This is especially true against teams that attack the paint and pressure the rim.

This is no longer about short-term survival. It is about protecting the fairness of the championship. That’s why Denver must act decisively at the trade deadline. One potential move is with Atlanta Hawks.

The only trade Denver has to pursue

Denver Nuggets get:
Mr. Okongwu

The Atlanta Hawks receive:
Zeke Nnaji
Christian Brown
2026 first round draft pick (top 10 protected)

The deal sends Onyeko Okongwu from the Hawks to Denver in exchange for frontcourt depth, a breakout wing and future draft capital. It’s aggressive, but necessary.

Why now

Okongwu is the rare center who fits Denver’s immediate needs without forcing a philosophical overhaul. At 25, he brings elite athleticism, legitimate rim protection and an efficient finish around the basket. That’s exactly what Denver is missing without Jokic. His ability to defend in space and compete shots (1.2 blocks per game, strong suppression of opposing goals at the rim) allows Denver to preserve its defensive identity even without its MVP.

Offensively, Okongwu doesn’t need touches to be effective. It succeeds as a screen, rim and vertical spacer. Those skills mesh seamlessly with Murray’s pick-and-roll game and Hardaway’s gravitas off the ball. Most importantly, Okongwu’s $8 million expiring contract fits perfectly under the second apron. That should give Denver flexibility when Jokic returns. This is not a panic move. It’s a stabilizer that buys time and preserves wins during the dangerous part.

The inclusion of Christian Brown stings. However, that is the cost of doing business. Denver is in a championship window, not a development phase. Okongwu gives them a chance to maintain their position in the top four instead of fighting their way through the Play-In gauntlet.

Why Atlanta Says Yes

For Atlanta, this trade is perfectly aligned with direction and timing. Sitting at 16–19 and recalibrating their roster, the Hawks get a versatile wing in Brown. He can defend, score and grow into a long-term rotation. Zeke Nnaji offers a developmental frontcourt option. Meanwhile, a protected first-round pick gives Atlanta another storage asset around its nascent core.

Okongwu’s upside along with Kristaps Porzingis and Jaylen Johnson make him expendable. His current salary represents a rare bargain opportunity for a team looking to pivot toward youth and flexibility. This is extracting real value.

Feasibility and impact

From a roster and captain standpoint, the deal is doable, but requires precise sequencing. After the trade, Denver would have 13 standard players under contract. That means the Nuggets will need to add at least one additional player, which is likely the minimum signing, to stay in line with the roster.

Draft capital is a larger long-term expense. The move would leave Denver without a first-round pick in back-to-back draft years (2026 and 2027). It’s a significant sacrifice, but one that’s matched by an all-in title window built around Jokic. Additionally, the 2026 pick should be traded in the draft after Denver makes the selection. That will keep the Nuggets within the Stepien Rule restrictions while still delivering real value to Atlanta.

The most technical wrinkle involves Christian Brown’s ‘poison pill’ contract. Because Brown signed an extension that begins next season, his outgoing salary in Denver ($4.9 million) is different from his salary in Atlanta ($21.6 million). It is calculated based on the average of his current and future earnings. While that complicates the math, it doesn’t preclude a deal. It simply requires careful wage matching, which this framework accommodates.

These are minor hurdles and not deal breakers, especially for a championship-caliber team. Finally, the trade fits within the rules of the CBA. That positions Denver to remain competitive during the Jokic absence while Atlanta accelerates its asset accumulation. This makes the business a rare win-win based on urgency and time.

Final thoughts

Nikola Jokic will return. That’s not the question. The question is what Denver looks like when he returns. Will the Nuggets continue to be a top contender or a team struggling to regain lost ground? The trade for Onyeka Okongwa isn’t flashy. It won’t dominate the headlines. Still, it’s the kind of smart, decisive move championship teams make when their margin for error suddenly disappears. Now, for Denver, the margin has never been thinner.