After former Nuggets head coach Michael Malone spent years asking for more veteran depth, Denver’s new top decision-makers – led by general manager Ben Tenzer – have made the sort of moves this offseason that he would’ve appreciated, as Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst write for ESPN.com.
Even with Jonas Valanciunas‘ NBA future up in the air, the Nuggets did well to bring back Bruce Brown and add Tim Hardaway Jr. on minimum-salary deals. Executives around the league also took notice of their decision to part with their lone tradable future first-round pick (2032) and forward Michael Porter Jr. in a deal that netted them Cameron Johnson and took them out of the tax.
“That was a prized asset they gave up,” one general manager told ESPN, referencing the unprotected 2032 pick. “Teams have been eyeing that one to see if they’d actually use it.”
“I know Cam Johnson has some past health issues, but Porter’s back issues and knee issues make this move make sense to me,” another executive said to ESPN. “I think Cam and (Nikola) Jokic will connect on the floor well. They both think the game the same way.”
That last point could be an important one, according to one rival GM: “There is only one person who needs to be impressed with their offseason. That’s Jokic. Sometimes the best trades you make are the ones that engage your superstar. If Jokic is energized by those moves, then it was a great summer.”
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Within that same ESPN.com story, Bontemps and Windhorst check in on the Lakers, noting that the club has received a handful of inquiries from “eyebrow-raised” teams following Rich Paul‘s cryptic statement accompanying LeBron James‘ opt-in. There’s nothing happening on that front for now, but teams will certainly monitor the situation, according to ESPN’s duo, who add that there was a “small bidding war” early in free agency for forward Jake LaRavia. He ultimately agreed to join the Lakers.
- No. 11 overall pick Cedric Coward, whom the Grizzlies traded up to draft, is doubtful to play in Summer League this month, a team spokesperson told Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Coward is still making his way back from a shoulder injury that limited him to just six games at Washington State last season. While the 21-year-old said last week that he feels ready to play, Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman told reporters at the time that the rookie wing had only done 1-on-0 work and would need to take part in 5-on-5 drills to be fully cleared.
- When the Pelicans faced criticism in the wake of last week’s draft, it was more about giving up a valuable unprotected 2026 first-round pick to move up 10 spots from No. 23 to No. 13 than about the player they chose to pick at that spot. But big man Derik Queen is still taking that criticism personally and using it as motivation, writes Rod Walker of NOLA.com. “I don’t think anybody in that class ever is going to be better than me,” Queen said. “I block all the noise out. (Pelicans head of basketball operations) Joe (Dumars) has got a lot of faith in me. Most of these guys (in the draft), I beat in high school. It doesn’t really matter. I know the NBA is a whole different level. Don’t get too big-headed. Don’t get too low. And just beat on them next year when they come in, and make Joe look like a genius.”
- Chuck Terrell, who had been working for the Jazz as their vice president of basketball intelligence, has left that position to become the general manager of Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball program, agent Andy Miller tells Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
That Bontemps/Windhorst report is pure fluffing from Michael Malone’s team. By local beat reports he actually vetoed previous attempts to add “veteran depth,” far from “spending years asking” for it. He’s finding out now – especially in the Knicks process – how much of his reputation around the league was based on friendships not professional respect. He may struggle to find another HC job, as teams understand that he was carried by his star to where he got.
He’s allowed not to like certain deals lol I can only imagine the deals Calvin Booth came up with.
He will have no problem finding another job.
He hasn’t yet.
He was fired 3 months ago lol.
Booth was an idiot…
valanciunas came already in athens, its a done deal
Well, NOP didn’t give up an unprotected 2026 FRP to move up 10 spots, they gave it up, together with #23, to get Queen. So, he should take it personally.
Neither side is focused on #23 here. People criticizing the deal are saying that Queen isn’t as good as the guy that the NOP are LIKELY to get with that 2026 pick. If he turns out to be no better than the 13th best player in this draft, then they’re right. If he turns out to be at least a top 7-8 player in this draft, then they’re wrong. Anyway you look at, it’s personal.
Queen could be ROY. He’s lost a lot weight last two years. He gets lean he can be big time. Like him, great pick imo. Need to move Zion. Keep him away from Queen.
Agreed on both.
I read the situation as Dumars giving Zion one last chance to deliver, while being prepared to move on if the nonsense continues. To do that he needs a big that can score inside. Queen’s development clock = Zion’s put up or shut up clock.
Joe’s playing on house money now.
Probably shocked he’s even back on an iron throne himself
Joe’s aware he doesn’t have the tools in his belt for a master plan.
Why not run into the flames and cross your fingers if your him
Poor Pelican fans .
These types of potential blunders not only impede the short lived Dumars era they can potentially reek havoc on whoever’s next in the chair putting them in a position of weakness out the gate
Dumars was brought in as a wartime consigliere.
NOP ownership and fans (there are some) will be fine with his supposedly risky moves. Griffin’s endless down management of their once plentiful asset base was wearing on them. The franchise, from the get go, has sold them on “wait til next year” (or next decade) – every year. I don’t think the franchise could survive in New Orleans through another rebuild, without their fans ever seeing something rebuilt.
Only the MIL factor on the draft pick is concerning. Just the NOP pick, I’m OK with Queen vs having it. Of course, if Giannis leaves, and two sets of ping pong balls are on the pick’s side, then it might be a deal with many regrets.
The pick should fall 15-20 next year. Giannis isn’t going anywhere and him along makes Mil a playoff team in an awful east. #20 is worlds from a top 10 player. 85% of 20th+ picks are out of the league in 5 years. I’d rather have a 13 vs two 20s.
Think the lakers are trying to stay competitive with what they have but in reality actually looking forward to 2027 to be a real contender.
I don’t see Luka AR Bron and Ayton as a great fit altogether. Luka and Ayton sure but they need 3 and D role players around them. Both Bron and AR are poor defenders and both more on ball guys. Then in terms of trades it’s hard to get good value in AR cause he is underpaid, then with Bron he’s old and expensive so again hard to get fair value and make a deal. Which makes it hard for anything to happen now.
Proper 3 and D players are too expensive. They will have to to with just the D and hopefully rebounding, but without the 3.
Doncic, LeBron, Rui, Reaves can shoot the 3s.
They did well in signing Ayton and LaRavia. Plus they got a couple of guys in the second round. They have a good track record of getting value in the second round and among undrafted players. Had they not lost DFS, they’d have reasons to be cautiously optimistic.
The 2nd oldest player in the starting 5 will be 27 years old Rui. That’s a massive improvement over what they had not so long ago.
Unprotected 2032 pick for Pels. Will be out of lottery. Its worth it to me. Trade Zion for value. Pels can be a playoff team in 3-4 yrs. Queen is that good. He plays the 4. I don’t see he and Zion sharing the floor. Pelicans had a solid draft . Fears, Queen, Peavy are all solid NBA talents. Fears and Queen have potential to be stars. Peavy has potential to be a starter. Strong D, has size, and his shot has improved.
Fears development means you can move Murray.
So moving Murray and Zion gets you more talent. And lets GM Dumars move away from the past …..
Pelicans had a strong draft. They move Zion. Queen can be ROY …..