Star center Nikola Jokic is comfortable with the Nuggets‘ direction following the abrupt departure of president of basketball operations Tim Connelly for Minnesota, reports Mike Singer of The Denver Post.
As Singer details, Nuggets management has been in contact with Jokic this week, speaking to him over the phone to allay any concerns he might have about Connelly’s exit.
Singer previously reported that Connelly had created a positive work environment in Denver and had earned the trust of the Nuggets’ top players, including Jokic. With the 27-year-old entering a contract year and eligible for a five-year super-max extension this offseason, it made sense to gauge his feelings on the front office situation, especially since some reports have blamed Connelly’s departure on team ownership’s unwillingness to make a competitive counter-offer.
While it may not have been realistic to expect Denver to match a Minnesota offer that reportedly include ownership equity, the Nuggets will want to assure Jokic that they remain willing to spend what it takes to build a title contender.
For his part, Jokic has said he intends to sign his super-max extension once the Nuggets officially put the offer on the table, which they’re expected to do as soon as the CBA allows. With general manager Calvin Booth considered likely to take over for Connelly as the head of basketball operations in Denver, there’s no indication that the team’s or the two-time MVP’s stance on that super-max deal has changed.
Nuggets governor Josh Kroenke is scheduled to speak to reporters on Thursday for the first time in several years, says Singer.
Conference Finals window
Warriors 15 years
Grizzlies 12 years
Mavs 10 years
Nuggets 5 years
Clippers 4 years
Suns 0 year (Ayton and Johnson are taxable)
Lakers 0 year (run it back again and again)
Ayton might be a avg over paid center at the end of the day. He no way close to the best centers in the league . Suns might be better getting center like green or even getting Rudy just for his d
Jokic, Embid, Towns, Adebayo and Gobert (exclusively for his defensive game). None of the rest of centers in the NBA should earn more than 20M (best case scenario). In fact 75% of them would sign for the MLE
Warriors will live and die by curry but once he gone no one knows where the warriors be no one on that team even close to what curry is. Grizz got youth on it side. Mavs got luka for years so anything can happen. Nuggets I agree small window depend how murry does. Clipper we might of seen the best they got . I don’t see them winning anything . Lakers I’m a fan don’t even get me started with them I have no trust in them till they get their ish together
we’ve seen the warriors long term without curry when he got hurt.
it wasn’t pretty. that dynasty is over once father time catches up with him which isn’t far away.
Seriously. I’m laughing at that 15 year window, unless he’s talking about it in total and counting the last ten years.
Oh Sillivan, you terrible poster! How do the Warriors have a 15 year window with all of their key pieces over 30?
Separate of that, how does anyone have a 15 year window, or 12, or 10? In today’s NBA, 3-5 years is about the best you can claim for a Championship window.
Being a Phoenix fan I am soooo happy the Suns are even on this list. Years and Years of Sarver and suddenly it all falls together. It goes to show you never know who can win. I still wouldn’t count the Suns out. I do have confidence in Monty Williams and the GM. The Suns aren’t the train wreck the Lakers are currently and who thought we would ever be able to say that.
It’s comical to think that Jokic would be upset at all (let alone so upset as to change his own career path) due to the “loss” of a CEO that’s done little to advance his chances to win a championship. It’s just as likely that he’s celebrating. Although, most likely, it’s irrelevant to him.
Connelly is apparently a nice guy, and DEN has drafted well under his watch. But the drafts had little to do with him. The other personnel moves have been all about the path of least resistance. That usually leaves a team short of championships. We’ll see here, but getting a new set of eyes on the roster that’s been constructed has more upside than downside.
The Lakers just suck. Bad front office, with one member trying to outdo one another that creates discord and bad decisions. The roster is just a few mediocre young players mixed with nursing home residents. What surprises me is that the Lakers have done this THREE times and none of these teams were successful. They either get bounced in the playoffs or do not make the playoffs, like in the case of this year. The lack of picks mixed with humongous contracts restrict the team from getting any better. Thanks to all of these bad decisions, they will just have to sit in it and accept that they just suck.
Not wrong on Suns & Lakers, but…?
Nugs should run everthing through Jokic anyway… make him ecec GM. He probably won’t push an opinion in most cases so it would not matter.
Booth was similar to Barton, so I hope he gets mean enough, soon enough, and deals his expiring ___. Reed can replace him okay. Gordon probably has lost trading value.
Nuggets success is reliant upon what happens with Murray and MPJ. Doesn’t matter what Joker does, no Murray and no MPJ this team is an early exit. Can’t see them pivoting off Murray, but do they move MPJ? Would they be in on Beal or Kyrie to form a lethal backcourt duo?
If I were a bottom team in the East or West I’d be all over trying to get MPJ and take that risk. Like if I could turn Beal into MPJ and future 2 top whatever 1sts I’d do it. Idk what paying Beal +40M does for the Wiz long term when hes what 29?
Turn right around and S&T Porzingis for Ayton.
And maybe Mathurin falls to you at 10.
Ayton/Gafford/Todd
MPJ/Rui/Todd
Kispert/Deni
Mathurin
Tyus Jones?
Maybe you also move KCP and Kuzma.
Nuggets roll out
Joker
Gordon/Green
Barton/Green
Beal/Morris
Murray/Bones
That team is deep.
Jokic is Luka, Luka is Jokic, these are the only 2 teams that almost 100% of the offense runs through one guy. Might get you to tge playoffs but that’s it. Lucky if you pass the first round.