The Los Angeles Lakers are doing everything they can to prepare for the upcoming NBA Finals.
With a 48-30 record, the Lakers stand as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. They're in a good position, up 1.5 games on the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets have had a whirlwind of a season. They'll win games against great competition, but then fall flat and lose to teams like the Washington Wizards.
Ownership had seen just about enough, as the Nuggets announced Tuesday they would be firing head coach Michael Malone, as well as general manager Calvin Booth.
The move shocked many around the league, especially with the playoffs starting April 19.
While they definitely left some wins on the table, they were still the No. 4 seed in the West.
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The Nuggets are tied with four other teams in the loss column with 32, so there's a chance the Nuggets stumble and finish lower than that.
Lakers favorites for Nikola Jokic
Since the trade for Luka Doncic, the Lakers haven't gotten much out of their center position.
Jaxson Hayes is serviceable with his athleticism, but it's a position the Lakers will likely look to upgrade in the offseason.
That's where Jokic comes in.
Granted the Lakers would have to move heaven and earth in terms of their assets and the players they send over to come close to Jokic's salary, but it's a dream worth having.
Jokic has a friendship with Luka Doncic already, as the two were seen sharing some laughs at All-Star Weekend last season.
It may not be as much of a long shot as one would think.
The Bovada sportsbook is already offering odds as to the next team Jokic will play for if he decides to leave the Nuggets.
The Lakers are the favorites at +500, with an implied probability of 16.67%.
It's the teams and the odds that follow that make it interesting.
Serbian League teams KK Mega Basket and KK Joker are +600 and +800, respectively.
Based on past interviews, it wouldn't shock fans to see Jokic retire early or decide to go home to Serbia.
It wouldn't be the first time this has happened in basketball. Rudy Fernandez chose to return to Spain rather to continue playing in the NBA.
Another example would be Ilya Kovalchuk in hockey. He chose to return to Russia and play rather than continue playing for the New Jersey Devils. He did so with 12 years and $77 million on his contract.
While he did briefly return to the NHL years later, the move Jokic could choose to make isn't without precedent.
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