Golden State Warriors See A Huge Opportunity To Land Nikola Jokic With Major Cap Space Next Summer

Golden State Warriors prepare for a blockbuster offseason move© Rich Storry/Getty Images/AFP

The Golden State Warriors are eyeing next summer with a big target in mind. Insider Jake Fischer said on SiriusXM NBA Radio the Warriors wonder if Nikola Jokic could hit the market in 2027. Golden State is projected to hold between $64 million and $66.8 million in max cap space, and Stephen Curry is still on the roster. Jokic has made his wish to stay in Denver clear, though, and he has not given the Nuggets an ultimatum. The Warriors are 5-3 on the season and already building toward a splash.

Can The Warriors Really Land Nikola Jokic Next Summer?

Nikola Jokic is not on the market, and Denver has not put him there. Golden State sees a window anyway. Fischer said the Warriors are looking around “rubbing their fingers together” at the idea of max cap space with Curry in place. A person around the team told him the Warriors “still believe that they are a destination.”

Curry helped create the room. He signed a two-year, $116 million extension worth about $20 million less than his maximum, and the savings opened the door for the front office.

The three-time MVP holds a player option for 2027-28 and has already turned down chances to extend with the Nuggets. He prefers to wait until the 2027 offseason, when a five-year, $350 million deal could be on the table. Rival executives are watching, especially after a slow start in Denver.

Jokic has also said he is “more than open” about staying put. He wants to retire with the Nuggets and then move back to Serbia. Other teams with cap space are lining up, and the Warriors, who have not been a real contender in years, would not necessarily be first on the list even if he does move. Winning games would calm the noise in Denver, but the talk will continue until the next deal is official.

Who Else Could Be On The Warriors' Free-Agent Radar?

Jokic is the headline name, but the list is longer. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns also hold player options for 2027-28, so each could reach the market.

Golden State knows how these pursuits can go. The Warriors missed out on Antetokounmpo, and Kevin Durant did not want to come back a couple of trade deadlines ago, Fischer said. Jimmy Butler did arrive, and the team was playing well before he got hurt.

The front office believes the same pitch can still bring in a star, whether by trade or on the open market. The projected cap space gives Golden State real power to try.