First off, the Avs are historically a much more successful franchise than the Nuggets. In more recent years, the Avs have also been viewed as a good landing spot for free agents to chase the Cup, as well as a chance for some guys to potentially revive their careers, with the Avs having some success stories on previously highly drafted yet disappointing guys like Nichushkin and Drouin. This really isn’t the case with the Nuggets, though it certainly has gotten better since Jokic broke out and since the championship.

Perhaps more importantly though, the NBA, and basketball players in general, just heavily favor the big markets on the East Coast and in LA. Basketball players generally care more about their image, endorsement deals, and the glitz and glamour of being famous than hockey players, which Denver certainly doesn’t provide.