The Denver Nuggets, with three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, are vying to win their second-ever NBA title after beating the Miami Heat in the 2023 championship. However, they are off to a 2-2 start, and their star-studded core is very aware this is their last chance to run it back.

“If we don’t win it this year, we all know they might have to break it up,” forward Michael Porter Jr. told ESPN on Friday.

The Nuggets have Jokić, Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Jamal Murray all signed to massive deals. On top of that, the only draft pick they can trade is a distant 2031 first-rounder. They don’t even have a second-round pick to trade away.

With Jokić acting as a passing up, Murray serving as an on-ball creator, and Porter Jr. and Gordon somewhat limited on both sides of the ball, the Nuggets would have done well to add a defensive-minded wing who can sling shots from anywhere on the floor. According to recent reports, they nearly landed Paul George but balked at the asking price.

“League sources said the Nuggets inquired about Paul George this offseason, but talks never escalated because Denver refused to discuss (Christian) Braun, (Payton) Watson or (Julian) Strawther, and the Clippers weren’t interested in solely taking back future salary,” wrote Ramona Shelburne for ESPN. 

The Nuggets likely offered Porter Jr. with the hopes that George, a nine-time All-Star and four-time All-Defensive player, would have given their roster some added versatility. Instead, the Nuggets had no interest in giving up any of their young role players. Watson, Strawhter and Braun are all solid contributors, but none of them would be even the second or third option on a playoff-caliber team.

In 2020, after winning a title, the Los Angeles Lakers made promising rookie Talen Horton-Tucker untouchable in trade talks. They would go on to do the same with Austin Reaves and Alex Caruso before letting Caruso walk in free agency for nothing and flipping Horton-Tucker to the Utah Jazz for whatever was left of a 34-year-old Patrick Beverly.

In three years with the Lakers, Horton-Tuckeraveraged 9.3 points and shot only 27.6% from 3-point range. The Lakers, like the Nuggets are now, overvalued their young players and failed to add a complementary piece to their championship-winning core. 

As Denver looks to find its footing this season, swirling thoughts of “what if?” will likely haunt them unless they can put together several winning efforts.

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