What happened: Denver's approach around Nikola Jokic increasingly resembles Milwaukee's late-stage roster management. Both franchises faced pressure to refresh an aging championship core while preserving a narrowing window.

Why it matters: Milwaukee's decline shows how quickly a contender can exhaust its flexibility around a franchise player. Denver's remaining offseason decisions could shape whether it avoids the same downturn.

What to watch: Watch whether Denver makes a substantive roster move before training camp or carries its current structure into 2026-27.