NBA Rumor: Nuggets Front Office
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Nuggets promote Calvin Booth to president of basketball operations
Michael Singer: Kroenke: Tim’s departure has given a huge opportunity for Calvin Booth. “I’ve always thought very highly of Calvin.” Said he thinks he’s going to do a great job.
Katy Winge: Nuggets announce Josh Kroenke will speak tomorrow at 12:30pm
One person who previously worked with Booth and still works in the NBA described him as “detailed,” and extremely prepared. For example, the person cited a mock draft exercise where scouts and executives debated all 60 picks and made note of how Booth always had something to say about each prospect. Those opinions, the person said, were always backed up with player comparisons, sometimes going as far back as 20 years, and data to support his argument.
Michael Singer: Have heard two names who could be joining Tim Connelly in Minnesota, per sources: Darrell Arthur and Dell Demps. Arthur recently started working for the #Nuggets, and Demps gave Connelly one of his first breaks in New Orleans. Both are very close with Connelly.
Nikola Jokic comfortable with direction of Nuggets
Nuggets management has been in touch with Nikola Jokic in the days following Tim Connelly’s stunning departure, and the team’s franchise superstar is comfortable with the direction of the team, a league source told The Denver Post. The two parties have spoken over the phone, allaying concerns over Connelly’s exit for Minnesota, which became official Monday.
Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth is widely expected to assume responsibilities running the team, although nothing’s been made official from the organization. Nuggets governor Josh Kroenke is scheduled to address the media for the first time in years on Thursday. Jokic is close with Connelly, who helped orchestrate the Nuggets’ impromptu trip to Serbia two weeks ago to present him with the MVP trophy. Typically laidback and reserved, Jokic has generally deferred questions about roster decisions to team management. He’s often said he has trust in those tasked with filling out the roster around him.
Michael Singer: The Josh Kroenke press conference for Thursday is likely to be postponed, I’m told. Kroenke recently tested positive for COVID. Look for an official update soon.
Michael Singer: From the #Nuggets: “Over the past two days multiple members of the Denver Nuggets staff have tested positive for Covid-19, including Governor Josh Kroenke who was scheduled to meet with the media tomorrow.” Press conference has been moved, tentatively, for next Tuesday.
Harrison Wind: Update to Josh Kroenke’s presser: It’s been moved to Thursday due to a “building conflicts” in regards to Game 5 of Avs/Blues.
The deal is a five-year, $40 million contract plus a kicker for equity, multiple sources told The Athletic, a rare package for an executive. Connelly met with Timberwolves minority owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez in recent days and then flew to Minnesota on Saturday to meet majority owner Glen Taylor for the final step toward becoming the new president of basketball operations for the Wolves.
Tim Connelly officially named Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations
The Minnesota Timberwolves today named Tim Connelly as the team’s President of Basketball Operations. Connelly will oversee and assume responsibility for all decisions made within the Timberwolves basketball operations department.
“We are thrilled to announce Tim Connelly as the next leader of our basketball operations department and welcome his family to the Twin Cities,” said Timberwolves Ownership. “He brings a wealth of NBA front office experience with various franchises. We look forward to building upon our most recent playoff run and bringing more success to Timberwolves fans for years to come.”
Tim Connelly, Denver’s president of basketball operations since 2013, is leaving to take the same position in Minnesota, a source told The Denver Post. The Timberwolves offered him five years and $40 million, plus equity, another source said, who added the deal more than doubles what he was making with the Nuggets. The Nuggets countered but there was still a significant gap between the two offers, a source said.
Minnesota’s interest in him was well-known among the Nuggets’ traveling party when they went to Serbia, and there was even some hope that a new deal could be struck then, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. After that, momentum picked up with Minnesota.
The decision to leave was particularly difficult for Connelly considering how close the Nuggets are to title contention and the deep relationships he’s established inside the organization with players and coach Michael Malone. Under Connelly’s watch, the Nuggets have reached the second round of the playoffs in three of the last four seasons, which had only been done once since 1994. Connelly, according to multiple sources, wasn’t eager to leave Denver and wasn’t searching for a new organization to help develop.
Darren Wolfson: A current pres. of bball operations who knows new #Timberwolves boss Tim Connelly well: “One of the greatest folks you would ever meet.” Tim has kids that are 7 & 6, is married, big family guy. His brothers Joe, Pat, Dan, & Kevin all work/have worked in hoops. Pat VP w/ Bulls.
Sources: Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth is now expected to assume lead basketball operations role for the franchise. There is significant belief in Booth inside the organization, and the former NBA veteran is well-respected as a rising executive across league.
Nuggets president Tim Connelly to meet with Wolves ownership
Nuggets president Tim Connelly is heading to Minnesota this weekend as the next step in the Timberwolves’ recruitment of him, a league source confirmed to The Denver Post. Connelly, who’s overseen the Nuggets since 2013, is planning to meet with Wolves owner Glen Taylor. ESPN first reported the development. With a stable organization, a reigning two-time MVP and a place where his family is comfortable, Connelly has no reason to leave the Nuggets. The only X-factor? Compensation. It’s believed the Timberwolves’ offer is more than double his current salary. Minnesota’s interest didn’t come out of nowhere. In fact, it was discussed when Connelly, team governor Josh Kroenke and coach Michael Malone all went to Serbia to surprise Nikola Jokic with his MVP trophy. News of Minnesota’s interest in poaching Connelly from Denver got out on Wednesday. Publicly, it’s been more than 48 hours since Denver’s ownership has had a chance to counter or ensure Connelly doesn’t even listen to Minnesota’s proposal. Privately, they’ve had far longer than that.
Denver Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly is traveling to meet with Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor this weekend in the next step in the team’s pursuit to hire Connelly and make him one of the NBA’s highest-compensated executives, sources told ESPN. Connelly has discussed the job extensively with Timberwolves minority owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez in the past week, and meeting with Taylor is next in the process, sources said.
Chris Hine: Connelly and Timberwolves inching closer to a deal. Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez have had significant influence over the process, but Glen Taylor as current controlling owner still has the final sign off on any deal.
Mike Singer: News came out Wednesday night tying Tim to Minnesota. It didn’t come out of nowhere. There’d been interest for a while, & it was discussed while group was in Serbia. The #Nuggets & the Kroenkes have had ample time to address and/or counter. It doesn’t look like they’re going to.
Michael Singer: Not entirely surprising, but #Nuggets president Tim Connelly’s been radio silent with a lot of people close to him. I strongly believe he doesn’t want to leave Denver, and I also think he’d stay if the Kroenkes could make him a competitive offer.
Nuggets governor Josh Kroenke did not respond to requests for comment on the situation. Connelly, according to sources, is in an option year of his contract. His tenure in Denver began in 2013 after his predecessor, Ujiri, left for a more lucrative offer from the Raptors.
Timberwolves offering Tim Connelly an ownership stake
Dane Moore: A key negotiation factor in the Timberwolves trying to attract Tim Connelly to be the new president of basketball operations is a stake in ownership, sources say. Connelly has been on the Wolves list of “top 5” POBO candidates dating back to last summer, sources say.
The Timberwolves identified a list of four big-name GMs — Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti, Golden State’s Bob Myers, Toronto’s Masai Ujiri and Connelly — to fill their vacancy, according to a person with intimate knowledge of discussions. And the Nuggets’ long-time president was deemed the most “gettable,” from a financial standpoint, according to another source. Connelly, according to sources, is in an option year of his contract.
Dane Moore: Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez put together a list of five POBOs to target shortly after purchasing the Timberwolves, sources say. Originally Pat Riley was on that list. These are the most recent five names, sources say: Tim Connelly Masai Ujiri Daryl Morey Bob Myers Sam Presti
Michael Singer: The phrase I’d heard from two different people in the last few days was that Connelly was the most “gettable,” from a financial standpoint. I believe that’s what we’re seeing with Minnesota emerging.
Darren Wolfson: My words from Sunday. Tim Connelly-#Timberwolves buzz has been out there for a bit. @ShamsCharania + @JonKrawczynski reporting Wolves now in serious talks w/ him, but nothing is imminent. 1 person very close to Connelly: “I don’t see it unless they give him $10M per and equity.”
Ryan Blackburn: There’s a lot to unpack with the Tim Connelly report, and as surprising as it is, there have been some signs. Notably, Calvin Booth, Denver’ current general manager (under Connelly at POBO) spoke to media at Denver’s post-season press conference a couple weeks ago.
Tim Connelly leaving Nuggets to lead Timberwolves front office?
The Timberwolves are in serious talks with Denver Nuggets president Tim Connelly about the franchise’s vacant President of Basketball Operations role, sources tell The Athletic. The Timberwolves recently requested permission from the Nuggets to speak with Connelly, and the sides have moved beyond exploratory conversations, sources said. There have been no agreements reached yet, and nothing appears imminent, sources said.
Connelly has emerged as a serious target for the Timberwolves and marks the first known external candidate for the organization’s lead basketball department position. Sachin Gupta, the Timberwolves’ executive vice president, remains a significant part of the organization’s long-term vision and is a candidate to continue overseeing basketball operations, sources said.
Timberwolves majority owner Glen Taylor said Gupta would be evaluated after the season to determine if they would go forward with him or look elsewhere. The Wolves have not ruled out the possibility that Gupta will remain in charge, sources said. But the talks with Connelly represent a real consideration of hiring someone above Gupta.
Ryan Blackburn: Here’s the full response from Tim Connelly on my question of whether Nuggets ownership is ready to pay the tax: “If the team is good enough, they’ll pay accordingly. So, I don’t think that will be any sort of issue moving forward.”
Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth and Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon are the other noteworthy GMs who’ve yet to run their own operation. The last person to hold Booth’s title with the Nuggets was Karnisovas, and Booth may be as highly regarded as his predecessor. “Former player, works his ass off. Unbelievable dude,” said one assistant general manager. “He goes out and scouts like a normal scout.”
Donatas Urbonas: The Denver Nuggets have promoted Tomas Balcetis to Assistant General Manager, sources confirmed. Balcetis, 34, joined the Nuggets in 2013.
Nuggets promote Calvin Booth to GM
Shams Charania: The Nuggets are planning to promote assistant general manager/10-year NBA vet Calvin Booth to general manager under Tim Connelly, sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium.
Mike Singer: League source confirmed this is the plan with Booth, however, due to the hiatus, it’s unclear when the organization will make an official announcement.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Bulls will start calling for permission on hiring the GM to work with Karnisovas and those interviews will start in short order, per sources. Booth is a serious candidate for promotion to replace Karnisovas as GM in Denver.
In the wake of Karnisovas’ departure, part of the delay in announcing it is because there remains the possibility that some of Denver’s staffers could go with him to Chicago, a league source says. There’s not a uniform approach across the entire NBA, but the Nuggets believe heavily in allowing executives to further their careers if it means a significant upgrade in role or title.
In following the team’s organizational ethos, Nuggets assistant GM Calvin Booth may well be the likely successor. The 10-year NBA veteran was a finalist to run the Minnesota Timberwolves’ basketball operations department last April, and similar to Karnisovas’ rise, a promotion for Booth in Denver would be the next logical step.
Chicago Bulls to hire Arturas Karnisovas as top decision-maker
KC Johnson: Confirming that Bulls are negotiating a deal to make Nuggets GM Arturas Karnisovas their next head of basketball operations, per source. 1st with news was @wojespn. As previously reported, this hire will work to build out organizational infrastructure, including a GM.
The Bulls first interviewed Arturas Karnisovas for their head of basketball operations on Tuesday, sources said, and the two parties scheduled plans for further conversations as the Denver Nuggets general manager became a centerpiece of the search.
Denver Nuggets general manager Arturas Karnisovas has made a strong impression on the Chicago Bulls and emerged as a focus of the franchise’s process to hire a new executive vice president of basketball operations, sources told ESPN. Conversations with Karnisovas and Bulls officials are continuing Wednesday, sources said.
Karnisovas’ diverse background in the game had captured the Bulls’ attention from the start of this process, including his role in building the Nuggets into a contender with team president Tim Connelly and governor Josh Kroenke; stops with the Houston Rockets front office and league office; and a decorated EuroLeague and Olympic medal-winning playing career.
KC Johnson: There are plans for the Bulls and Arturas Karnisovas to talk again, per sources.
KC Johnson: Bulls have interviewed Nuggets GM Arturas Karnisovas for lead executive position, per sources. As previously reported, Bulls hope to have process finalized sooner than later.
Denver Nuggets Artūras Karnišovas name has been floated by multiple sources, although he signed a contract extension last summer and the Knicks would need permission to speak to him and possibly compensation to obtain him. An SNY report said that some around the league believe long-time Charlotte Hornets GM Rich Cho is under consideration.
Michael Singer: Had good chat w/ Sue Bird at last night’s #Nuggets home opener. She won’t be with the team this year as she tours with USA Basketball ahead of next year’s Olympics. She said last year’s experience in front office was fantastic and she’d love to work with them in the future.
“Definitely we’re banking on our continuity,” Denver’s GM Arturas Karnisovas told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on “The Woj Pod” released Sunday. “A lot of teams that made changes and added huge pieces and stars, they’re still dealing in hypotheticals. We’ve watched this group show us last year, take us to a 54-28 season, having the best home record, 34-7, so this group is done and they’re still the third youngest group in the league.”
NBA.com’s John Schuhmann compiled data on every team’s “continuity ranking” and the Nuggets finished No. 1. They’ll have 12 players returning from their roster last season, the most of any team in the league. Expect to hear the continuity refrain a lot this season. Other highlights from Karnisovas’ conversation with Woj: The Nuggets watched extensive film of Marc Gasol before drafting Nikola Jokic. They tried projecting whether Jokic’s athleticism would hinder his ability to play in the NBA.
Josh Kroenke on Connelly’s decision to stay: He got his start at the Wizards organization and as I talked to Tim, as the situation unfolded, I just said ‘Look, it’s going to be your decision and make the best decision for your family. Because as much as I want to keep you in Denver, in an absolute manner, there are very real family considerations.’
Josh Kroenke on why the Nuggets allowed Connelly to interview with the Wizards: That’s part of Tim and my relationship. To say you trust someone is one thing, but to actually trust someone is a different thing. Tim and I had private conversations as part of our contract-extension talks several months ago. Just because Tim was signing a contract extension with us didn’t mean his thoughts from his childhood and different thoughts from earlier in his career would simply go away.
Connelly decided to finish what he started in Denver: a team with one of the youngest rosters in the league and the second-best record in the Western Conference and an all-star in Nikola Jokic. Connelly also wished to continue his working relationship with Nuggets team president and governor Josh Kroenke, with whom he was in “constant communication” via text message and phone calls all weekend, according to a person familiar with Denver’s side.
While they have yet to formally agree to a new contract, Kroenke told Connelly that he was “willing to do what it takes to keep you,” said a person with details of the communication. If Connelly had left, the Nuggets were planning to turn over the franchise to General Manager Artūras Karnišovas and felt confident doing so, but they are “thrilled” and “breathing a sigh of relief” that it didn’t come to that, according to a person who shared details of Denver’s thinking.
Adam Mares: And just like that, the Nuggets have announced that Michael Malone and Tim Connelly will meet with the media tomorrow at Pepsi Center for end of season exit interviews. Should be a good one.
Tim Connelly will not take over as the Washington Wizards’ president of basketball operations, as many league insiders had expected. He will instead remain with the Denver Nuggets, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking. Connelly was in Washington on Friday to meet with majority owner Ted Leonsis. As the president of the Nuggets’ basketball operations, Connelly did not want to formally interview. He did not visit Capital One Arena or the team’s practice facility in Southeast Washington, several people with knowledge of the meeting said. Connelly instead discussed the Wizards’ job at Leonsis’s residence.
During that session, Leonsis did not extend a contract offer, according to three people with an understanding of the situation. The Wizards then made an offer on Sunday, terms of which were not immediately known. Connelly turned it down.
Chris Dempsey: There were 2 essential quotes [from Josh Kroenke]: “These are real people behind the scenes & Tim had a real pull from his family. I think it’s a testament to the #Nuggets organization, the fans & the city of Denver how much Tim has grown to love the place and is excited to see this thing through.”
Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly went to Washington D.C. on Friday with plans to discuss the vacancy atop the Wizards’ front office, The Denver Post confirmed. The Nuggets expect that this situation could resolve quickly, according to a league source.
Connelly never wanted to formally interview for the Wizards job, but the fact that he’s meeting with them suggests serious consideration by the franchise. Should Connelly leave, the sentiment within the organization is that Karnisovas would be more than capable of handling day-to-day duties.
Wizards extend offer to Tim Connelly
Shams Charania: Sources with @David Aldridge @fredkatz: The Washington Wizards are offering their head front-office job to Denver Nuggets president Tim Connelly. Connelly toured Wizards’ practice facility today in meeting.
Chris Mannix: The Wizards presented Tim Connelly with a four-year contract offer that is believed to be in the neighborhood financially of what he was looking for, sources tell @SInow. Connelly wanted five years—but is strongly considering the offer.
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Washington Wizards have been granted permission to discuss franchise’s President of Basketball Operations job with Denver Nuggets President Tim Connelly, league sources tell ESPN. Meeting is expected this week.
Fred Katz: Connelly would be asking for a significant raise from his current salary in Denver. He currently makes in the realm of $2 million, according to sources.
Since shortly after Grunfeld’s exit, numerous sources have told NBC Sports Washington they believe the reason for the owner’s methodical approach involves Denver president of basketball operations Tim Connelly. Connelly is considered a strong if not leading candidate for the Wizards’ opening. However, Connelly wasn’t expected to fully explore a move until the Nuggets’ playoff run ended.
Candace Buckner: This DEN-POR ending is significant for #Wizards fans… League folks love scuttlebutt & whether it’s true or not, it’s widely believed in that circle that Washington will officially pursue Nuggets President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly once his team’s season ends
Everyone in the NBA has linked Washington to Connelly, who built the Nuggets into a contender in the Western Conference in five short years, who’s from Baltimore and, per numerous sources, would be delighted to come back to the DMV and run the Wizards, the team with which he began his NBA career as an assistant video coordinator in 1999.
Connelly just got a two-year extension from Denver owner Stan Kroenke that will pay him, industry sources say, somewhere just north of $2 million per year through 2021. It will surely take a doubling of that per annum, if not more, to get his attention, and to allow him to go to the Kroenke Family in good faith and say ‘come on. This is generational money for my family that I’ll likely not make again. It’s my (close to) hometown team. You have to let me go.’
Candace Buckner: The #Wizards have created a list of four GM candidates. That list includes Washington’s current interim Tommy Sheppard, Houston’s Executive VP of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas and Danny Ferry. Also, Tim Connelly has been linked to the list but has not interviewed.
Other top candidates include Brooklyn’s Sean Marks, whose roster upgrades without the use of high draft picks got the team back in the playoffs; Houston’s Daryl Morey, last season’s winner who retrofit his roster on the fly during this season; and Denver’s Tim Connelly, whose team moved from outside the playoffs to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
Darren Wolfson: One thing heard today on #Twolves POBO candidate Calvin Booth — yes, he’s in the mix: he nearly accepted a front office job with the Wizards before taking the Nuggets ass’t GM job. He has many fans in the league.
Connelly, who grew up in nearby Baltimore and has been in charge of the Nuggets front office since 2013, began his NBA career as an intern with the Wizards in 1996, when he was a student at Catholic University. Washington hired him as a full-time video coordinator in 1999. He worked his way up through the front office until becoming assistant general manager of the Hornets in 2010 and eventually heading to Denver three years later.
He and Wizards interim GM Tommy Sheppard are close friends from Connelly’s Washington days. Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, who also owns the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals, has told Sheppard that he has a real chance at the permanent job.
Nuggets President and Governor Josh Kroenke announced today that the Nuggets have extended the contracts of President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly and General Manager Arturas Karnisovas as well and also provided multi-year extensions for the entire basketball operations staff.
Josh Kroenke: “Building a true championship contender in the NBA is a unique process for each franchise, and our path in Denver hasn’t always been clear. But Tim, Arturas and the rest of our staff continued to work through every challenge we faced along the way, and I hope Nuggets fans are as excited as we are about our future. We firmly believe we can bring an NBA championship to Denver, and are thrilled to continue our pursuit together.”
Denver Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly, architect of one of the NBA’s most impressive rebuilds, has agreed to a contract extension, league sources told ESPN. Connelly’s contract could’ve expired at season’s end, but discussions with Nuggets president Josh Kroenke had been ongoing in recent weeks and culminated with a new deal, league sources said.
Matt Moore: Along with Tim Connelly, the rest of the front office received extension offers as well, I’m told. Denver’s front office retains its continuity going forward along with Coach of the Year candidate Michael Malone.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Denver Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly, architect of one of the NBA’s most impressive recent rebuilds, has agreed to a contract extension, league sources tell ESPN.
June 26, 2022 | 6:52 am EDT Update
Kevin Durant has not spoken with the Nets in weeks?
Not much of Murdock’s take was optimistic if you’re a Nets fan. Indeed, he referred to the franchise’s current situation as “destruction” in the podcast and suggested perhaps more firmly than other pundits that Durant could indeed leave. “The vision is on the verge of crumbling,” he wrote. “It didn’t have to be this way,” he said, summing up. “This team … and it’s ironic. Kevin came to reconcile relationships, build relationships with his BFF’s and it’s not working out. It’s doing the exact opposite. And you juxtapose that with Golden State winning…” “Now, you have reports that Kyrie is looking elsewhere. I made some calls. Kevin Durant has not talked to the team in weeks. I don’t think Kevin is confident in the front office right now. I don’t know if he’s at the stage of leaving but there’s a big uneasiness from not only from the Kyrie side, but the KD side as well.”
And Murdock reiterated reports that Durant, who had in the past recruited free agents, is not doing that now. “At least right now, he’s one of those guys who doesn’t want to recruit, isn’t in the position to recruit or doesn’t feel like he is a position to recruit whether you like that or not.
At the center of it, Murdock pointed out multiple times is the Nets relationship with Irving. “His biggest beef is that he feels that the front office didn’t grow to understand Kyrie, whatever that means. I would push back on that when a guy leaves for two weeks at a time … Kyrie earns the lion’s share of the blame. But I think KD believes that ‘hey, you guys didn’t understand this guy. You didn’t try to figure out where he was coming from.’”
Still, Durant believes the Nets didn’t support Irving particularly when they decided not to play him at all in October, after he refused to get vaccinated like all but a handful of NBA players, then brought him back in October. “That’s just how he feels. ‘Hey man, I brought this guy in, him and Kyrie, and the front office didn’t do enough to support him at a time when we needed to support him.”
Moreover, Murdock pointed to the Nets decision to dump Adam Harrington, their long-time assistant coach and director of development, as a big negative for KD. Durant and Harrington go back to KD’s time in Oklahoma City when Harrington was his shooting coach. “And here’s another thing, KOC, the Nets got rid of Adam Harrington. who’s very close to Kevin. He’s one of Kevin’s guys. And that had a big ripple effect on how Kevin feels about this right now. He’s still in this figure-it-out mode but there is some fire to that smoke that he’s kind of reevaluating where he stands with this.”
Tony Durant. Based.
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving won a ring together before, and it may not have been their last … ’cause Matt Barnes tells TMZ Sports the Lakers could be smelling champagne if Kyrie Irving joins L.A. Matt — who played for the Purple and Gold for two seasons — spoke about the recent Irving rumors out at LAX this week … and he told us if Uncle Drew ends up with the Lakers, it could result in the franchise’s 18th championship.
