HoopsHype.com Rumors

Chicago-based agent Mark Bartelstein told ESPN.com that Amundson, after narrowing down his final two choices to Golden State and New Orleans, opted Monday to accept the Warriors' offer. ESPN.com

Golden State Warriors, Mark Warkentien, Louis Amundson 

The departure of vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien has elevated Kroenke to a more prominent role in the Nuggets organization – one that likely will eventually include majority ownership. Well before the Nuggets didn’t renew Warkentien’s contract this summer, sources said Kroenke made a springtime tour to meet several of the most prominent West Coast player agents. The agents were told they would soon be dealing more directly with Kroenke on Nuggets personnel matters. Yahoo! Sports

Denver Nuggets, Mark Warkentien, Josh Kroenke 

The Nuggets considered Griffin, Ujiri, Atlanta assistant general manager Dave Pendergraft and former Sacramento assistant general manager Jason Levien for the position. Griffin has close ties to Nuggets advisor Bret Bearup, the last of three influential personnel voices to remain after executives Mark Warkentien and Rex Chapman were let go earlier this month. Ujiri, meanwhile, is well-respected by both owner Stan Kroenke and his Nuggets executive son. Josh Kroenke, the 30-year-old vice president of team development, is widely assumed to be in line to one day take over for his father as owner and has seen his role increase of late. FanHouse.com

Denver Nuggets, Mark Warkentien, Jason Levien, Dave Pendergraft, Josh Kroenke 

Billups expressed some shock at the Nuggets not retaining Warkentien and Chapman. "I was a little surprised by it, but, obviously, I knew they were both in contract situations,'' said Billups, who has spoken to both Warkentien and Chapman and wished them the best. "They're both going to be fine. Obviously, their records and resumes speak for themselves.'' FanHouse.com

Denver Nuggets, Mark Warkentien, Chauncey Billups, Rex Chapman 

Sam Amico: Ex-Nuggets GM Mark Warkentien, let go last week, appears to be leading candidate to become next GM of the Knicks. Twitter

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Mark Warkentien 

NBA observers figured the Nuggets wouldn't bring back one of their front-office executives, either Rex Chapman or Mark Warkentien, both of whom had contracts expiring in August. But the Nuggets surprised everyone Tuesday, from coach George Karl to rival teams, by letting them both go. "I had certainly been planning on returning," said Chapman, who was the team's vice president of player personnel. "But I think that the franchise right now is at a point where they have the situation going on with Carmelo (Anthony's contract) and they're going to focus their energy on bringing in maybe some new blood to the process, and I don't blame them for that. "I've got the utmost respect for the (Stan) Kroenke family. . . . This is business and in our business you have the freedom to run it as you see fit. I wish the Nuggets nothing but the best." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Mark Warkentien, Rex Chapman 

The Denver Nuggets announced on Tuesday that Warkentien, the vice president of basketball operations who won the award in 2008-09 and whose contract expires Aug. 31, would not be retained. In a major front-office shakeup, the Nuggets also announced vice president of player personnel Rex Chapman, whose contract also expires Aug. 31, would not return. Of other recent Executive of the Year winners, the Clippers' Elgin Baylor was let go 2 ½ years after winning in 2005-06. Memphis' Jerry West, the 2003-04 winner, retired three years later and Phoenix's Bryan Colangelo, the 2004-05 winner, went to Toronto less than a year later. Among winners for Coach of the Year, six of the past seven were gone from their positions within three years of being handed the trophy. FanHouse.com

Denver Nuggets, Mark Warkentien 

I caught up with Nuggets coach George Karl on Tuesday night, and GK expressed his emotions about the Nuggets’ decision to not renew the contracts of execs Mark Warkentien and Rex Chapman (quotes below) As for his health, Karl also said he’s no longer feeding himself through a stomach tube (following his bout with throat-and-neck cancer). He is able to eat foods, but is taking it slow. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Mark Warkentien, Rex Chapman 

As for his thoughts on the execs, notably his close friend Warkentien, Karl said: “I have a lot of love and friendship with Mark. Over the last few years, we pulled off some incredible personnel moves, Mark and I work very well as a team, but I also respect Stan (Kroenke) and the organization. … I respect his decision and I respect that we will move hopefully in a direction that will somehow, someway, be better. But Mark, to me, is a very, very first-class personnel guy.” “As a coach, there’s always frustrating moments with personnel. Always moments that we disagree. But Mark and I, in the last 20 years, worked together probably 10 of those years. We can fight with each other, hang up on each other, and we still work together. That’s an asset. In the same sense, Stan is very capable and interesting and kind of eccentric owner in a lot of ways. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Mark Warkentien 

Asked about his potential input with the new hire, Karl said: “In the next few days I’m sure they’ll be some conversations and I hope that I have some input.” Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Mark Warkentien 

Nuggets GM Mark Warkentien was let go yesterday by Denver and will be strong Knicks' GM candidate if Walsh decides to make a hire. The Post reported recently the well-respected Warkentien, a friend of Walsh's, had a preliminary interview with the Knicks last summer after being given permission by the Nuggets owner. New York Post

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Mark Warkentien 

The Nuggets have a three-year, $65 million offer on the table to extend Anthony's contract through 2015. He's due to make about $17 million next season, after which he can opt out and become courted and coveted like this year's superstar class that includes LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. "We're doing everything we can to make 'Melo the basketball version of John Elway, who plays with one team his entire career and becomes The Guy," Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien told The Associated Press during a brief break from business calls. ESPN.com

Denver Nuggets, Mark Warkentien, Carmelo Anthony 

If Melo turns the team down this summer, the last resort could be trading him, a source told The Denver Post's Mark Kiszla earlier this week. As for the Nuggets' hefty offer to Anthony, Warkentien said: "Nothing's new — (owner) Stan Kroenke's in it to win it. As far as the offer, did you expect anything less? In our business, (contract offers) always depend on the name, and Melo's the right name." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Mark Warkentien, Carmelo Anthony 

Mark Warkentien, the team's vice president of basketball operations, said by phone that he wants Carmelo Anthony to be like a John Elway. "Win a championship and play in one place forever," Warkentien said. "Bill Russell, David Robinson, you go to one place and you're the brand. There's a special category for that type of guy." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Mark Warkentien, Carmelo Anthony 

Denver's Mark Warkentien, the 2008-09 NBA Executive of the Year, is in the running for the Phoenix general manager job. A source told FanHouse that Warkentien, the Nuggets vice president of basketball operations, was granted permission to speak with the Suns, and he talked this week on the phone to Phoenix owner Robert Sarver. FanHouse.com

Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, Mark Warkentien 

The source said no formal interview has been set up by Phoenix with Warkentien, and it's believed the Suns are going to take their time in searching for a replacement for Steve Kerr, who will not return when his contract expires Wednesday. The source said San Antonio assistant general manager David Lindsey already has interviewed with Sarver, but that it could be a month or so before the job is filled. FanHouse.com

Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Mark Warkentien 

Joe Freeman: Larry Miller: "Mark Warkentien will not be a candidate for this job. There is no interest in bringing him back into this role." Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Mark Warkentien, Larry Miller 

Speaking of front-office maneuverings, Denver GM Mark Warkentien has been quietly pushing for a decision one way or another from ownership on his future after his contract expires Aug. 31. With no contract offer forthcoming, Warkentien asked for permission to speak with Phoenix about its GM opening, with the understanding that he’d also want to speak with Portland and the Clippers after the draft. CBSSports.com

Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Mark Warkentien