Appearing on ESPN2 on Tuesday night, Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth was asked about comments he made recently to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer about Bones Hyland and Michael Porter Jr. While he didn’t dispute the accuracy of his quote, Booth indicated he didn’t expect it to show up in O’Connor’s story.
“Under no circumstances would I make or approve of those kind of comments for public consumption,” Booth said (Twitter link via Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports). “It’s not my character as a person or executive, and I think it’s an unfair characterization of Michael and Bones.
“I think Bones is a great kid, has a bright future ahead of him, a charismatic player in our game. And obviously Michael is a core piece of our program with his character and offensive and defensive prowess. So I think that was unfair for those things to be put out there and hopefully it doesn’t happen in the future.”
Addressing the Nuggets’ decision to trade Hyland at last season’s deadline, Booth had candidly explained his thinking to O’Connor.
“I knew you couldn’t have two guys that couldn’t guard, and we couldn’t have two guys that were young and kind of more ‘me guys,'” he said. “Mike makes $30 million. He’s one of the best shooters in the NBA. So, Bones, there’s no place for you.”
While those comments don’t come off as particularly flattering to either Hyland or Porter, O’Connor clarified on Twitter that he didn’t view them, in context, as a shot at either player.
“Being a ‘me guy’ wasn’t a knock,” O’Connor wrote. “You want at least one guy who can shoot without any fear from anywhere. It’s part of what makes MPJ special, there was just too much of the same. Plus MPJ improved (defensively), as written about in the context of the article.”
Based on Booth’s comments on Tuesday, it sounds like he believed he was speaking off the record when he discussed his thinking for trading Hyland. While his frank assessment was refreshing when compared to typical executive-speak, the fact that he’s already walking it back suggests that he’ll be more guarded when talking to reporters in the future.
Rule #1 of making comments as a public figure: If it’s not something you’d be comfortable becoming public, don’t say it.
Exactly. How do you do an interview with a reporter and say those things and think they won’t be broadcast? Wow and Calvin booth has been doing this a few years, he’s no rookie gm.
Sometimes (many times), when doing an interview, the interviewer is taking notes and/or recording the interview. It’s somewhat natural to think that once they turn the recorder off and/or stop taking notes, any conversation after that is kinda “informal” and off the record – and you may add things that aren’t as sugarcoated or politically correct. Ooops!
It happens, and Cal will learn from this one!
This was a set up interview with a national reporter who Cal is not friendly with. I would assume he didnt think about what he was saying during a part that was absolutely on the record. Like what you think KoC and him just kicked it for days shooting the s**t about his past trades after an interview. KoC even seemed surprised by him saying that when discussing the article on The Mismatch…
lmao nuggets already falling apart cuz they worried bout lakers
What have they done to fall apart? Yes they lost two key reserves but that’s a money thing. That’s a decision upstairs by ownership.
Idk if it’s a money thing. The Sun’s got great vet minimums. The Nuggets gave Reggie Jackson twice what they could have gotten Cam Payne for. Laker’s got Wood.
Sun’s, Bucks and Lakers got ring/bag chasers selling the same dream the Nuggets sold Bruce Brown the year prior.
The Suns started the offseason with 4 players where DEN had a nearly full rotation. When Vet Min guys are choosing a location a lot of them choose a place with a path to playing time. Dont think you want CWood on your team. Unless your bottoming out like the Rockets were with him.
Idk, it tends to happen seemongly almost every year.
There are one or two role players from either one of the NBA Finals teams that gets overpaid by another franchise because they had a great post-season..
Brown is a very solid player, but he’s replaceable and at a much cheaper cost. It may take more than Braun to replace him, it may take two other players to combine to do what Brown did for them, but they simply couldn’t afford to keep him at that price point.
Their depth and versatility was a big reason why they were so good, both in the regular season and the playoffs. Bruce Brown can do so many things that replacing him with one player isn’t really feasible.
Braun and Watson are talented as all hell and Nnaji has a decent floor, but Watson is raw, Braun is still developing (I like him a lot, but he still has a lot of growing to do), and Nnaji is still not consistent. And what’s the rest of the bench? Reggie-shell-of-myself-Jackson at point? DeAndre Grundy- excuse me, DeAndre Jordan as the backup Center? Justin Holiday, who literally looked like an AAU player? Strawther, whose college shooting isn’t and shouldn’t be expected to translate well to the NBA? Vlatko Cancar is the only other decent player they have on the bench, and he’s also inconsistent.
This all puts a big burden on their starters, which isn’t great. MPJ is a given to get injured again at some point, and Murray came back from a potential career-ender not long ago. Jokic can’t escape injury forever. Not at his size. And I like Gordon and KCP a whole lot, but neither of them is capable of carrying a team through rough patches.
tldr; they lost a lot of depth and that places a heavier burden on a starting lineup with walking back injury MPJ, recent ACL tear-recoveree Jamal Murray, and Jokic.
Their ceiling is about the same as last season, but their floor is lower.
Eon I’m with you on all that and have said as much in my posts previously. Many have the nuggets number one in the west and even repeating but that’s easier said than done in today’s nba.
What I’m wondering is why are the “Nuggets already falling apart because they’re worried about the Lakers?”
The Lakers have superior depth and versatility and one of the only Bigs that can slow down Jokic even slightly. They’re probably the best matchup for the Nuggets in the west.
I don’t think the Nuggets are falling apart, or that if they were it would be *because* of the Lakers improving. But they should be on the lookout.
The Suns (because people are going to bring that up), I don’t know. I’d have to see them match up against the Nuggets before I can draw any conclusions. The only reason they did okay in the playoffs against the Nugs is because Booker went *off* and averaged 31/5/8 on 57/55/88 shooting. That’s not sustainable or reliable. They lost by an average of 17.25 ppg in their four losses, and 9.5ppg across the series as a whole. And their defense is worse now with Beal on the court and no Craig on the wing. So my gut feeling is no, but the talent could carry the day.
Jokic put up 28 ppg 14.5 rpg 12 apg in the sweep, AD and whoever else didn’t slow him down last season
And Cancar is out for the year…
Ahh, I didn’t realize it was an ACL tear. I must have missed when that was announced, I thought it was just knee surgery. That sucks.
They said it some time ago
Brown is quite literally the only depth they lost. A big piece sure but hardly all of their depth. Papa Jeff hardly played until the playoffs. Sure injuries could happen. What will the Lakers be without Bron and or AD? What will happen if (when) suns lose one of their top 3); and Nurkic (really?). Nuggets may not repeat, but it won’t be bc they lost one major contributor.
Nobody is worried about the Lakers when there is 6 teams maybe even 8 teams that can fight for the #1 spot. The only thing teams are worried about is keeping all their players healthy.
Yeah if you are worrying about other teams at this point in the season, it’s over already. You can respect other teams. To which the logical solution is work hard yourself and live with comes of it.
You mean the team they swept last spring? Lmao keep telling yourself that. Typical Laker meathead talk.
Umm, the Lakers got swept by the Nuggets. It’s the lakers that are worried.
Nobody plays defense, why throw them under the bus. Jokic doesn’t play defense at all. Booth is ugly .. for this. I watch you shoot then you watch me shoot
Did you watch the playoffs at all? “Jokic doesn’t play defense at all” is a totally incorrect, totally disproven conclusion, and even in the regular season it’s wrong.
Actually I didn’t watch the playoffs and haven’t in years. The NBA is at its weakest defensively. This is basically the 50s talent wise out there. The game is about elementary school kids chucking up threes. No dribbling, no defense, no coaches, no post game, nobody can or wants to play 82 games, cry about everything. I watch Jokic on highlights always complaining to the refs with his arms in the air( like everyone else) or gets mad and bullies people with his fat body. Just because he throws his weight around doesn’t mean he is good at defending, has he ever averaged a block per game.. nope. This is the most overrated time as a basketball player. Most competitive from most to least in order – 80s,90s,60s,00s,70s,2010s,2020s,50s. 2020s- I’ll run down court and watch you shoot then watch me shoot, I’ll play James Harden defense Ole or LeBrons I’ll stand at half court and wait for the pass to score and pad my stats. Only 10 players play defense. I’m sorry EMS but you are a new age fan and love it
“New Age Fan” lmao. I started watching basketball as a kid in the 90s.
And if that’s how you see the competition level? Uh. You need to look at what you’re judging it on. You seriously think that the 70’s where there were like five competitive teams is more competitive than anything more recent? The NBA didn’t actually function as a sports league until the 70’s. Almost all the talent was on like three teams from the 60s and earlier. Hell, until the NBA-ABA merger in the late 70s, the competition level was lacking, at best.
Blocks and steals, like all stats, are indicators. They illustrate, they don’t answer. Acting like that’s a reasonable way to judge defense just shows you don’t get it.
I grew as say time as you then. The 70s had more than 5 competitive teams, they would destroy the players of today, the players of today would call out sick with a hang nail. The 70s wasn’t functioning because of black players fighting each other, cocaine use and no star power until Bird and magic came. I don’t judge players off from defensive numbers but you can tell a decent post defender from them. Mark Eaton I will use again as a example, great block rate and could play defense. Jokic cannot not. You need to learn more. I know every player ever!!! I know everything about basketball. You don’t answer all my points but I do to you. If you can Please tell me 5 good players from the 70s and today
I thought these players were more athletic than the players before them. Every player took pride in playing 82 games. They also get paid way more than the players before them. The old heads are so much better. I understand kids now a days don’t want to work hard. I am really disappointed with the players (cry babys) today. I think everyone across the world should stop watching and worshipping these uneducated athletes. Sports and celebrities are the most important people ever. Pay them alot less of they cannot play 82 games a season. LeBron started this taking days off not the Spurs. Play 82 games like EVERYONE did before you. Privileged lives. Even scrubs would play 82 back then. Maybe they are just scrubs in today’s game. James Harden-Freemon Williams LeBron James – Rich mans Paul Pressley( Bucks)
If this version of Jokic played in the 80s he would be even better. He is plenty capable of playing physical, and who would guard him? The game is as good now as it has ever been skill wise.
I do agree with this
OKC’s Millic( I think that is his name) even said the NBA is weak compared to overseas. Wake up bro
Overseas rules allow different play. No D 3 sec, can swat balls off the rim as soon as it touches it, and the refs allow much more physical play.
Of course, of course. That is why guys sacrifice millions on top of millions to stay in EU rather than come to the soft, unskilled NBA. Ha ha ha, sure.
Joker is a high IQ player with serious defensive flaws, and he was incredibly lucky to face teams that didnt have the pieces to exploit it this run.
In order to exploit Joker you have to make him come out of the paint and guard high pick and roll. He doesnt have the foot speed to recover and cant navigate screens. You can also blow out his defense by just making him work really hard on both sides so he never gets rest. Joker cant keep up with running teams without getting really flat by Q4.
Just because he isn’t an elite defender that doesn’t mean he doesn’t play defense. Im pretty sure he held his own against AD who is the best 2 way player in the NBA.
That’s what the NBA wants, sadly. That’s why there’s so many games with 70-80 ftas combined, because these days you can’t breath on players (and ofc the lakers’ flopping is legendary).
I read the quote, reread it, looked a couple times at who said it… and thought that’s not typical for a GM to attach his name to… Honestly thought of Coleangelos burner in that moment.
Defense is the most underrated part of the nba
It’s why Dame and James Harden get paid but don’t win. No defense.
Yep. It’s less physical, more about length, speed, and technical skill now. But it’s still really important.
It’s about elementary school kids chucking up shots and that’s it
You already admitted you don’t really watch the NBA, so how do you know?
Don’t win? Both have won plenty of times.
Booth basically said the same thing in his initial PC and interviews, but without names. The latter makes it different to a point, but everyone knew the group he was talking about (not just MPJ and Bones). Of them, MPJ is the only guy left. So, I don’t see as a team issue. Or, stated differently, I don’t think he’s that upset it went on the record.
I knew those comments were uncharacteristically candid. That said, I found them to be rather refreshing, even if I completely understand the need to lie through one’s teeth to the media (as Booth should have known). It’s not like either comment was THAT critical. Could’ve been worse.
Bring back the hand check rule along with fining players sitting out games or fake injuries to sit out. Sitting out national televised games is weak. Not competing in dunk contest or playing in the Olympics is weak cough(LeBron). The league needs integrity again. LeBron and friends need to go. Teaming up to ring chase. Or the Harden Ole defense or LeBrons I’ll stand at half court and wait for the pass then score to pad my stats or Jayson Tatum’s I’ll watch you shoot then watch me shoot defense. Silver has to go. Weakest era since the early 50s
Kevin O’Offtherecord
How long has Booth been the game? (Rhetorical, no need to answer)
You are never “off the record” talking to the press or the media. ♂️