📸 Aaron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post

According to longtime Nuggets insider Mike Singer, the Denver Nuggets made a serious attempt to draft Luka Dončić in 2018.

On the latest episode of Brian Windhorst’s Hoop Collective podcast, Singer—now working within the Nuggets organization—shared that Denver “had designs on pairing Nikola Jokić with Luka Dončić.”

Per Singer, Denver reached out to the Sacramento Kings, owners of the No. 2 overall pick, offering a package centered around Gary Harris and two first-round picks in hopes of trading up.

In hindsight, Sacramento probably would’ve been better off accepting that deal than what it actually did—selecting Marvin Bagley III, a move widely considered one of the biggest draft missteps in recent years. That pick came just before Dončić, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Trae Young were taken.

Still, Denver’s offer may not have topped what Dallas eventually gave up to acquire Dončić. The Atlanta Hawks, who originally drafted Luka at No. 3, traded him for Trae Young and a 2019 first-round pick that became Cam Reddish.

Though Gary Harris was a dependable two-way guard throughout his career, he didn’t develop into the kind of franchise centerpiece that Young did in Atlanta. And given the Nuggets were already playoff contenders, their first-rounders weren’t especially valuable at the time.

Singer added that Denver would’ve had “a hell of a what-if” if they had included Jamal Murray in those talks.

In fact, during the 2019 offseason, the team reportedly resisted the New Orleans Pelicans’ push to include Murray in a potential trade for Anthony Davis.

That decision ultimately paid off. Murray played a pivotal role in helping Denver win the 2023 NBA title, rewarding the front office’s faith in him.

Still, the mind can’t help but wander—what if Luka Dončić had joined Nikola Jokić just as the Joker was rising into MVP form?