Denver Has Its Eyes on Jokic’s Olympic Teammate to Fix the Bench

The Denver Nuggets have some roster work to do this summer. That much became painfully obvious when they got bounced in the first round by a Minnesota Timberwolves team that was missing Anthony Edwards for part of that series. The good news is they have Nikola Jokic. The bad news is just about everything around him looks shaky right now.

According to a report from Djordje Matic of Meridian Sports, the Nuggets are targeting Los Angeles Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanovic in free agency. Bogdanovic is expected to have his $16 million team option declined by the Clippers, which would make him available on the open market when free agency opens June 30.

There’s a connection here that makes the rumor interesting. Bogdanovic and Jokic played together for Serbia during the 2024 Olympics. They had real chemistry on the floor during that run, and Denver’s front office has to be wondering if some of that can carry over to the NBA. The Nuggets need shooting off the bench, and Bogdanovic can provide that. He shot 37 percent from three over the course of his career, though his minutes with the Clippers were inconsistent after they traded for him from Atlanta.

Why Bogdanovic makes some sense

Denver’s bench was a problem last season. Tim Hardaway Jr. was supposed to be the answer on the wing, but the team still lacked spacing and defensive punch when Jokic sat. Bogdanovic is not a lockdown defender by any stretch, but he’s a smart team defender who won’t get totally cooked. More importantly, he’s a guy who can create his own shot in a pinch and knock down catch-and-shoot looks when Jokic draws two defenders.

But let’s not pretend this fixes everything. The Nuggets got destroyed on the perimeter against Minnesota. They couldn’t keep anyone in front of them, and their lack of athleticism was exposed over and over. Bogdanovic is 32 years old and isn’t going to suddenly turn into a plus athlete. He’s a shooter first, a playmaker second, and a defensive liability in certain matchups.

The bigger roster problem

Denver might need to move some contracts before they can seriously upgrade the roster. Christian Braun is on a deal that looks rough right now, and Cam Johnson’s salary is another one the front office would probably like to shift. Neither is going to be easy to trade. Braun in particular has become a tough sell around the league after a disappointing season. The Nuggets are not in a position where they can just add a piece like Bogdanovic and call it a summer.

Still, the core is there. Jokic is still the best player in the world on most nights. Jamal Murray can get hot and carry a game. Michael Porter Jr. can shoot over just about anyone. But the depth is thin and the defense is soft, and signing Bogdanovic would be a band-aid on a wound that might need surgery.

The free agency period opens June 30. Denver has a few weeks to figure out which direction they’re heading.