You ve never seen Jokic like this or Nuggets like this before

During the photo session of the media day, Jokic leaned his head on Valan's shoulder, and then covered his face with both hands after teasing, "Do you want me to kiss him?" Such a seven-foot man seemed a little shy at this moment. You have never seen Jokic like this before.

Jokic was very happy. Although his horse racing life was about to come to an end for a short time, basketball was still what he loved. Especially with a helper like Valan, this may be the best substitute in Jokic's career. Who was Jokic's substitute before

? Jordan, who would not find a job anywhere except in the Nuggets, was Najib, who held 8 million and was useless. These people can also play occasionally in the regular season. In the playoffs, the Nuggets even have to let Gordon hit the No. 5 position.

So the Nuggets traded to Valan. Looking at the entire league, this is already the best substitute they can find Jokic. Valan ended up going to the Nuggets and went through some twists and turns. At first, Valan didn't want to stay in the NBA anymore, and even had negotiated a three-year, 12 million euro contract with Greece's Panasinakos.

But he himself has a contract and cannot bypass the Nuggets to play in Europe, and FIBA ​​will not allow it so. If Valan wants to play in Europe, he must have the Nuggets nodded, but the Nuggets are very tough, and Jokic personally persuaded him, Valan changed his mind.

Of course, the most important reason is money. Valan will earn $10.4 million next season, but the salary in the 26-27 season is insured. In order to reassure Valan, the Nuggets directly guaranteed his $10 million salary in the 26-27 season, and Valan turned around. On the media day, Valan said: "I am here now, and I am very happy to be here. If I am not happy, I will not stay here. The past has become history, and now we are the future." The 33-year-old Valan has already declined in his career. Last season, he averaged 8.7 points, 7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game with the Kings, but if he is allowed to play 15-20 minutes in a game, he will face the opponent's substitute center, Valan is enough.

In the European Cup that ended not long ago, Valan represented Lithuania and finally reached the quarterfinals. Although he lost to Greece in the knockout stage, Valan scored 24 points and 15 rebounds against the letters. He averaged 15.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in the entire tournament, with a shooting percentage of 64.7%, and is still the first-class center in Europe.

Varan's role in the Nuggets will definitely not be just Jokic's substitute. Nuggets head coach Adelman said that he would let Jokic and Valan play at the same time at some point, so Jokic could naturally hold the ball from the outside, and at this time, there would be one more Valan in the inside to protect the rebound.

The Nuggets' offseason success was of course not just the introduction of Valan. They sent Porter Jr. away, which was a god-like hand, pulled the team out of the dark salary quagmire. At the same time, Cameron Johnson, who was exchanged from the Nets, can also serve as a draw for Porter Jr., and even more reliable in defense. The subsequent significance of this operation is that the Nuggets can finally sign people in the free market, so old friend Bruce Brown returns, and Jokic jokes that he wants to "save Brown's career again". There is no need to worry about the chemistry between Brown and the Nuggets, after all, he is here to make a name for himself.

At the same time, last season's Pistons' starter Hardaway Jr. joined the Nuggets. Hardaway averaged 11 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game last season, and his three-point shooting percentage was 36.8%. Although the three-point shooting was unpredictable, the price of the basic salary was profitable.

The Nuggets' starter next season, Braun, Murray, Johnson, Gordon, and Jokic, offense and defense are more balanced than when Porter Jr. was before. Bruce Brown, Hardaway Jr., Valanciunas, Watson and Strauser on the bench can all enter the rotation, and the Nuggets' current lineup is terrifyingly deep.

Unfortunately, Westbrook chose to jump out of his contract for next season and became a free agent, otherwise the depth of the Nuggets' bench would be better. After having Bruce Brown, the Nuggets had no intention of signing Westbrook again. Westbrook has not found his next home yet. I wonder if he will have a chance to sign the King after the farce of Kumingga.

Nights, now with a strong team, may have a better lineup than in 23 years of winning the championship. Thirty-year-old Jokic is still at the peak of his career and may even become even more terrifying. So despite the SGA winning the Grand Slam last season, everyone still thinks that Jokic is the number one person in the league.

He rejected the Nuggets' early contract renewal this summer, with a total amount of US$212 million in three years. But this does not mean that Jokic has the idea of ​​leaving, but that he can sign $292 million in four years after renewing his contract in the offseason next year.

Jokic said: "The contract extension will always come. My plan is to be a Nuggets player forever."

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