Houston and Oklahoma City are the leading contenders in the opening Nikola Jokić next team odds! The Nuggets have struggled on the field recently, which culminated in the team firing its head coach Mike Malone and general manager Calvin Booth in the final week of the 2025 regular season.
With the once formidable Nuggets crumbling, will Jokić demand out of Denver? There are no such indications right now, but many betting sites already have odds on his next team. I analyze them in this article, sharing my next Jokic team prediction as well.
Nikola Jokic Next Team Odds (if not Nuggets)
See the table below for the latest Jokić next team odds, courtesy of BetUS.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Houston Rockets | +400 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +400 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +500 |
| Orlando Magic | +700 |
| Toronto Raptors | +800 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +1000 |
| Charlotte Hornets | +1000 |
| Utah Jazz | +1000 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +1000 |
| Miami Heat | +1200 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +1200 |
| Portland Trailblazers | +1200 |
The Rockets and the Thunder are tied at 4-1 odds to land Jokić, if the Serbian leaves Denver. Both teams are filled with younger talent and have plenty of draft capital to send the Nuggets’ way in exchange for the three-time MVP.
Top NBA betting sites have the Los Angeles Lakers as a close third at +500. The Lakers are followed by the Orlando Magic (+700) and the Toronto Raptors (+800).
Orlando and LA could be too high profile for Jokić. Toronto, conversely, has had success with trading for superstars who like to keep a low profile. The Joker could be the perfect consolation prize for the Raptors after they failed to resign Kawhi Leonard in 2019.
To view the latest odds for Jokić’s next team, go to BetUS and navigate to Sports > Basketball > NBA Specials> Nikola Jokić next team (if not DEN Nuggets).
Welcome Bonus
125% up to $2,625
- Three decades of experience
- Big welcome bonus worth up to $2,625
Denver Nuggets Clean House
Jokić has not said anything in public yet, but the reigning MVP could want out of the Mile High City soon. The Nuggets won the title two years ago, but their championship roster quickly deteriorated.
Full clean out: The Denver Nuggets are also firing general manager Calvin Booth, sources tell ESPN. Michael Malone and Booth both out today. pic.twitter.com/FvqOAFyOKy
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2025
Since winning the title in 2023, the Nuggets have lost multiple key role players, including Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jeff Green, and Reggie Jackson. Their defense has suffered as a result, and Jokić’s MVP-level performances have largely been wasted.
The list of former Nuggets now includes head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth. Malone and Booth were fired less than a week before the start of the 2025 playoffs. David Adelman will replace Malone as the interim head coach, and Booth will finish out the season but will not have his contract renewed.
It doesn’t look good for the Nuggets, and multiple teams will surely be interested in signing the best player in the world right now.
Nikola Jokic Next Team Betting Favorites
The Rockets and the Thunder have the trade pieces to build an enticing package for Jokić. LA, on the other hand, has a history of landing marquee players.
Let’s take a closer look at the top contenders in the latest Jokić next team odds.
Houston Rockets (+400)
Houston’s experiment of building around young stars finally started paying dividends last year. After three seasons of 22 wins or fewer, the Rockets finished 41-41 last year. This season, the Rockets have won 50+ games and will be the second seed in the West.
The Rockets are tied for the best odds to land Jokić at +400. Houston is finally a playoff contender, but it could ship some of their young players and draft picks to Denver to land Jokić.
Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. are all 23 years old or younger and have averaged at least 12 PPG this year. If Houston is willing to part with some of its young stars, they could create an offer the Nuggets cannot refuse.
Oklahoma City Thunder (+400)
The other team listed at 4-1 odds to land Jokić is the OKC Thunder. Like Houston, the Thunder are a young team that is ready to compete for a championship. OKC is at least a step ahead of the Rockets, though, and the top contender for this year’s title.
Shai you didn't have to do that 😳😮💨 pic.twitter.com/LF99uu7NO8
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) April 9, 2025
OKC’s +400 odds give them an implied win probability of 20% to win the Jokić sweepstakes.
The Thunder are the favorites in the latest NBA championship odds. However, OKC’s lack of playoff experience cost them last year. Adding a player like Jokić to pair with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the MVP front-runner, would make OKC the title favorite for the foreseeable future.
In terms of trade compensation, the Thunder could offer multiple young stars, including Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. OKC has multiple first-round picks to trade as well, including four in 2025 alone.
However, moving to the best team in the West right now could be seen as a very weak move that could ruin Jokic’s legacy.
Los Angeles Lakers (+500)
The Lakers do not have a wealth of young players or draft picks to trade. However, LA has the third-best odds to get Jokić at +500.
One of the ways the Lakers have stayed at the top of the NBA for decades has been by acquiring big-name stars. From Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaq to LeBron James and Luka Dončić, the Lakers always attract the best.
Pairing Jokić with Luka would be ideal for LA. However, outside of Dončić, the Lakers’ best trade asset is a 40-year-old LeBron. If Denver opens up a bidding war for Jokić, the Lakers would quickly be out-bid.
Best Nikola Jokić Next Team Sleeper Bets
Jokić leaving Denver would shake up the NBA. All 29 other teams in the NBA would do their best to land the three-time MVP. Here are two sleepers to consider before betting on your Jokić next team predictions.
Nikola Jokic Next Team Prediction and Betting Pick
The Nuggets’ 2023 championship seems like a lifetime ago after Denver’s roster turnover in recent years. If the Nuggets cannot build a contender around the three-time MVP, it could be tougher than ever to keep Nikola Jokić in the Mile High City.
Jokić is the best player in the NBA, and every team in the league would enter a bidding war for the talented big man. Of all the teams above, Houston has the right combination of young players and draft picks to trade for Jokić.
The Thunder are in a similar position, but the Serbian will be reluctant to do a Durant-like move and ruin his legacy. Joining the rising Rockets makes much more sense, so this is my prediction for Jokic’s next team.
Where to Bet on Nikola Jokic’s Next Team Odds
Betting on trade destinations for the game’s biggest stars is a rare chance for NBA fans. Luckily, BetUS makes it easy to wager on the latest developments from the league. You can bet on multiple NBA futures, including the latest Jokić next team odds.
New members of BetUS can pick from multiple welcome bonuses to build their NBA bankroll, including a mind-blowing 200% crypto bonus of up to $2,725 that can be used multiple times.
Welcome Bonus
200% up to $2,750
- Three decades of experience
- Big welcome bonus worth up to $2,625
You must be logged in to comment. Don't have an account? Sign up today.