The Denver Nuggets were at the peak of their careers after winning the 2023 NBA championship. Nikola Jokic was a two-time MVP at the time, but was already being lauded as the league’s best player. Their offensive system was nothing new, nor was their defensive scheme. Still, they were good enough on both ends that Jokic’s excellence would put them at the top.

It’s odd considering the architect of their roster, Tim Connelly, had left the franchise just a year earlier. Looking for a new challenge, the Maryland native flew to Minneapolis to take over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Less than two years later, Connelly’s Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets in a hard-fought seven-game playoff series.

“Disconnect” brewing between Michael Malone, front office at the Nuggets

One might think that these events would have prompted Denver to strengthen its roster.

Instead, the Nuggets didn’t offer their most important wing defender a competitive enough contract to keep him from signing with the Orlando Magic. They failed to trade Klay Thompson and Buddy Hield, two of the best 3-point shooters in NBA history. Replacing Reggie Jackson with Russell Westbrook is the only talent upgrade they made, but Jackson is a better fit stylistically.

Therefore, it is understandable that, according to David Thorpe, a veteran insider at TrueHoops, “there has been a disconnect between head coach Michael Malone and the Nuggets’ management for over two seasons.”

The fine line between genius and madness

Notably, although Calvin Booth has been their general manager since 2020, he has been Denver’s lead executive for the past two seasons. He’s not alone in that ivory tower, as Tommy Balcetis was named Booth’s assistant in 2020. Ben Tenzer was promoted to vice president of basketball operations in 2023-24. However, Booth is ultimately responsible for decisions like firing Caldwell-Pope.

If Christian Braun can play as well as Booth believes, it’s all over. In fact, he could be called a genius for believing in an easily available and affordable alternative. Julian Strawther will also have the opportunity to replace Caldwell-Pope. But as Thorpe notes, “in the long run, (Malone) is not a coach whose young players tend to make great strides.”

One could argue that Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are Malone’s success stories. Of course, Murray and Porter were lottery picks who were basically expected to be impact players. Jokic’s generational talent needed to be recognized rather than developed. However, Jokic and Porter have made significant progress in an area where they weren’t expected: defense. With Malone building his offense around them, Murray developed a nifty two-man game with Jokic.

Aside from that trio, however, Denver hasn’t had much success in player development. Braun, Strawther and Peyton Watson have shown signs of coming together but haven’t been able to put it all together. Zeke Nnaji hasn’t had a significant stretch of good basketball since being drafted. Malone’s inability to get more out of Bol Bol, a dynamic player full of potential, is perhaps his biggest flaw.

The last word on Calvin Booth

Booth has been around long enough to know Malone’s weaknesses. But instead of admitting his weaknesses and bringing in experienced players to cover them, he hopes Malone will suddenly excel at player development. The line between genius and delusion is thin, but which side is Booth on?