The Denver Nuggets are planning to sign superstar center Nikola Jokic to the maximum five-year, $146.5 million contract extension, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports.

Jokic was set to make $1.6 million under the team option for 2018-19, per Charania. But that would have made him eligible to hit the open free agent market for next year, so the Nuggets opted to play it safe and sign him long-term now.

The 23-year-old Jokic is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 18.5 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. Jokic set a career-high in virtually every category last season - leading the Nuggets to their first winning season in five years.

Despite winning 46 games, the Nuggets fell just short of reaching the postseason, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the regular season finale in a do or die game for both teams.

News of Jokic nearing the max extension comes days after small forward Wilson Chandler announced his plans to opt into his $12.8 million salary for the 2018-19 season, per ESPN's Chris Haynes.

via Sportsnet

Getting Jokic locked up long-term ensures the Nuggets will keep this competitive window open even longer. There's a strong mix of young players and quality veterans on this roster, and the Nuggets look poised to end their playoff drought next season.

With Gary Harris, Jamal Murray and Paul Millsap also returning in 2018-19, the Nuggets have the potential to make some major noise in the Western Conference. With Jokic and Chandler taken care of, the Nuggets can now look to recruit one o  two more impact players in the offseason.

Jokic was drafted with the 41st pick in the 2014 draft, but he's already surpassed expectations as he continues to develop into one of the league's top centers. From second round pick to $146.5 million man, life's been good to Jokic.

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