Nuggets front office aims to maximize Nikola Jokic’s prime, weighing a veteran buyout that could bring floor-spacing and intangibles to the roster. Kevin Love’s expiring deal and buyout chatter, tied to a three-team swap that rearranges Norman Powell, John Collins and Kyle Anderson, looms as a potential upgrade option for Denver’s depth. Cam Johnson’s arrival and Jokic-led core still dominate the rotation, but Denver’s bench could shift if Love links with a contender this fall.

The deal lattice—Heat, Jazz and Clippers exchanging Powell, Collins and Love—creates a chessboard where Denver’s best path to title contention is a balanced mix of Jokic’s prime years, Gordon’s versatility, and wing shooting. Denver’s depth at power forward/center includes Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, Jonas Valanciunas, and young wings Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther, with DaRon Holmes II and Hunter Tyson providing upside. Love’s veteran presence could stabilize the second unit and add insurance in the postseason, should the buyout materialize.

Durando’s note that Adelman’s Minnesota ties and Love’s willingness to chase a contender keep the narrative alive. Whether Love signs with Denver or merely remains a foil in the front-office chatter, the Nuggets’ path remains clear: sustain Jokic’s peak years, improve spacing, and trust the developmental curve of the youth on hand. The market signal is that Denver won’t stand pat as Jokic ages toward legacy status.