Connelly being targeted

[The Rebel]

Can't fault anyone for talking about doubling their salary.

I agree, if they are really going to double his salary and his wife and family want him to move back to the DC area than I can understand that.

As I have said before promoting AK and Booth and bringing in a new assistant GM that is a CBA/cap expert is not the worst idea in the world. I would prefer Connelly stays, but that is something that he has a right to decide.

[skywalker33]

Can't fault anyone for talking about doubling their salary.

I agree, if they are really going to double his salary and his wife and family want him to move back to the DC area than I can understand that.

As I have said before promoting AK and Booth and bringing in a new assistant GM that is a CBA/cap expert is not the worst idea in the world. I would prefer Connelly stays, but that is something that he has a right to decide.

I believe he just signed an extension so if he leaves I feel we should get some compensation from WAS. This is not a promotion, more of a lateral move so if we're doing them a favor, SHOW ME THE MONEY (or draft picks). Also, need him to stay away from our FO and scouting dept.

[skywalker33]

I think to let TC go home to WAS, he has to trade us a #1 pick for Will Barton, who also has Baltimore ties.

[The Rebel]

I think to let TC go home to WAS, he has to trade us a #1 pick for Will Barton, who also has Baltimore ties.

He should have to trade us 2 1st round picks for Plumlee and Barton to help him create the new culture there.

[NuggetsWY]

As I have said before promoting AK and Booth and bringing in a new assistant GM that is a CBA/cap expert is not the worst idea in the world. I would prefer Connelly stays, but that is something that he has a right to decide.

Whether Connelly stays or leaves, the Nuggets are nearing the time (and it is probably here now) when having a true CBA/cap expert is mandatory.

[WuTang_OG]

i hope u guys can keep him. hes done very well from the outside

[RRFB]

It's crazy how similar this is to the Ujiri situation. The only team calling is offering the only job he'd be willing to leave for.

Obviously the Kroenke's have a reputation of being cheap with their coaching/FO staff, but this is a good opportunity for them to change that. Hopefully they make a counter offer.

[The Rebel]

Read on Twitter

Sounds like they want him pretty bad.

[The Rebel]

i hope u guys can keep him. hes done very well from the outside

Connelly has been an amazing drafter, we have too many young guys that have shown talent but are still buried on our bench. The rest has been a mixed bag, so it is not as big of a loss as some think.

[The Rebel]

While it looks like Connelly may be gone, I am not as upset as others seem to be. I thought we could discuss what makes people so comfortable with him moving forward.

There is no doubt that he has been amazing at drafting, anybody that argues that he is bad is an idiot. I actually do not hold Gobert or Mitchell against TC either. Looking at the 2013 draft we were coming off a 57 win season derailed by injuries, and had 2 youngish Center that looked to be our future. Gobert would have never fit with that team with Lawson, gallo, faried and Chandler as well as Fournier, it was obvious that we were a running team and Gobert is slower than Jokic. No matter how you spin it Mitchell is not a fit for the type of players that we have liked and drafted, he is too much of a chucker.

Free agency is not as good. We signed 3 free agents to multi-year deals that I remember off the top of my head.

Foye was technically a trade, but we signed him to replace Igoudala. That was not a great deal, it wasn’t a killer but he was far from a great fit for what we needed.

JJ Hickson did not make sense to me when it happened, and to this day it does not make sense. I know he was supposed to be a Faried replacement, but his finishing was not all that great and his defense was worse than Faried, the only gain we got was a semi-dependable mid range shot.

Millsap. Millsap was the right fit for this team, he brought what we needed, but he was overpaid. There is no real arguing about that, we were the highest bidder and we got him.

Signing our own free agents.
McGee was a screw up, while some defended the contract after the show he put on in the playoffs that previous season, it was a bad deal the minute they offered it. My biggest issue with it though was not apparent until later. The guy obviously had a terrible work ethic, and considering Connelly was with the Wizards when he was drafted and they had him for half a season here, he should have known better to give him that deal.

Faried’s extension was a bad deal, it was widely reported they gave it to him due to public pressure, and it was obvious that they did not want him. He started having issues with Shaw immediately, then had issues with Malone, and he never developed. That deal would have been forgivable if we would have traded him while he had value, but we waited until nobody wanted him after he was benched for basically 4 years.
Gallo and Chandler, both were large extensions despite their injury issues. While Gallo’s worked out there is no argument that Chandler’s was a good deal considering we ended up salary dumping him last year.
Arthur was a bad signing as we got no value out of him, and he was never healthy the whole contract. It was too bad because he would have been a solid fit, especially this year with a lack of dependable 4s.
Plumlee is overpaid for a backup Center, while he had a great year this year the fact remains that his contract was not great for the role he played. Overall though I still think he could bring some value in a trade so it is not the worst deal.
Barton if he played like he did to end last season than he is worth his deal. If he was a better fit than he may be a solid deal as a 4th starter type. As a 6th man though he is slightly overpaid. Even if he was underpaid though I would say it was a bad deal because he does not fit what we want or need to do to surround Jokic.
Harris was a very good extension, and if he had not gotten hurt I think more people would love that deal. 25% of it is incentives including games played, so that was built into it as well.
Jokic was a no brainer as well.
When Craig re-signed I did not think it was a needed move, but that was also a very good deal.

Trades
Nene for McGee, after signing Nene to that deal to turn around and only get mcgee was a terrible deal.
Koufos for Arthur and Lauvergne was a bad deal. We traded a starting quality Center for an injury prone PF and a backup big. Trading Joffrey for 2 2nds did salvage some of that deal, but I still think we could have got more for Koufos.
Nelson for Robinson was a solid deal
The Mozgov trade was a great deal, we got 2 1sts for a bad player.
Fournier and a 2nd for Afflalo was a bad deal, TC did save it though when they traded Afflalo for barton and the pick that became Beasley.
We obviously held onto Lawson for too long, he should have been gone prior to the draft, and once he was shown pulling more dumb crap online and getting that 4th dui TC did well to get a 1st.
Nurkic for Plumlee was a terrible deal even though it salvaged something after that whole situation was mismanaged.
McGee, Chandler, Faried, and Arthur. While I usually ignore salary dumps, I cannot ignore these deals as he was the one that signed them. They all cost assets that could have been used to actually do a trade and combine some of the talent into a superstar to go with Jokic and Murray.

Overall Connelly has been great in the draft, and has improved over the years in trades, but has shown as recently as last season that he overpays free agents and his own players. Which means he likely overvalues most of them in trades, which is why we only trade guys when they force it or some team obviously overpays. Fact is this team still needs to make moves to become a championship team, even if Porter JR is everything we hope for, we have to many guys for the roster and guys who do not fit. I am not sold that Connelly can take the next step with this roster due to his love of his own guys. I do think he deserves a chance to see what he can do with this roster from here going forward, but I am okay with him leaving as well. I do think we should get compensation as well.

[TunaFish]

Trades
Nene for McGee, after signing Nene to that deal to turn around and only get mcgee was a terrible deal.

I think that was Masai Ujiri who made that trade, if memory serves. Can't argue with the rest though. The fact is TC has hits and misses but the Nuggets improved under his watch and he never had a draft pick higher than 7 in the first round.

With Jokic even TC admits that was luck.

[NuggetsWY]

Trades
Nene for McGee, after signing Nene to that deal to turn around and only get mcgee was a terrible deal.

I think that was Masai Ujiri who made that trade, if memory serves. Can't argue with the rest though. The fact is TC has hits and misses but the Nuggets improved under his watch and he never had a draft pick higher than 7 in the first round.

With Jokic even TC admits that was luck.

Yuppers, I think that was Ujiri too. No GM hits a home run every time but Connelly's done a fairly decent job for Denver - better than decent in my opinion.

[The Rebel]

Trades
Nene for McGee, after signing Nene to that deal to turn around and only get mcgee was a terrible deal.

I think that was Masai Ujiri who made that trade, if memory serves. Can't argue with the rest though. The fact is TC has hits and misses but the Nuggets improved under his watch and he never had a draft pick higher than 7 in the first round.

With Jokic even TC admits that was luck.

Yuppers, I think that was Ujiri too. No GM hits a home run every time but Connelly's done a fairly decent job for Denver - better than decent in my opinion.

You guys are right,Ujiri traded for McGee and TC re-signed him to that deal.

[Darklight]

I will post now before it's done so it doesn't look like kneejerk reaction.

He is probably gone and honestly I would be okay with it even though many will disagree. Now, don't get me wrong he has done a great job and no GM is perfect not even Ainge who I would probably consider the best GM currently (altough this off season is gonna be HUGE for him) Connelly has done some great moves and some really bad ones Rebel has pointed out alot but I will just talk about from what I can remember and since I have followed the team which is around 14-15 season I think.

He is a great drafter and the best GM at it IMO, now how much credit should go to him can be argued and I think it was AK who discovered Jokic but not 100% sure.. That mcdermott trade for Harris and Nurkic was fantastic altough nurk is a bitch and gone, heck our 14 draft has to be one of the best of all time considering what we got, massive luck to get jokic and have him turn out to be what he is today and will be in the future.. The 17 draft was a diaster not just becuase of mitchell I know that story all too well, we were never gonna pick him in the first place with that 13 pick instead gonna choose OG but for some reason traded down and got 2 PF when we had like 4-5 already, today it still boggles my mind. Now, I know there is a thin line between looking like an idiot and a genius that draft is a perfect ex of it, we could have stayed pat and just choose OG with the 13 pick but instead traded down, it should be noted he got picked by the raptors just one pick ahead of us when we traded down and that's what I am referring too, still doesn't make sense to get lyles in that trade as an additonal asset wtf dude was straight trash in utah and was yet another PF!?? It was most likely a panic pick to get lydon (but why draft another PF!?) when they realised OG was gone but whatever.

He drafted Murray and Beasley which were great picks, juancho was a meh pick but can't hit one all, monte morris was a great steal in the second, think Vanderbilt will be too and of course can't forget MPJ but picking him at 14 was a no brainer especially for us.

My biggest problems with him is he isn't great when it comes to trades and overvalues his own players and overpays them, which is two things I hope will end and change if he is gone. That plumlee trade was bad it made no sense to give up a first pick for him and nurk to get him! I get it he wanted to have a similar player who could do a little of what jokic does with the passing. I am fine with that but when you see it didn't work out how you thought it would you can't double down on your mistakes and overpay the guy more then twice what he is worth, you have to be able to swallow your own pride and not care what the public perception will be it's better to do that then make an even bigger mistake which he did. Trust me fans shouldn't make fun of GM's becuase 95% would make Billy King and IT when he was the GM of the knicks look like geniuses..


Another ex is that barton contract, remember I called it a blazer-esque contract which I thought was a bit harsh but might have been on point in hindsight, he for me was worth at most 44M/4 years 11M on average, but I didn't like him and he just a low IQ player who is also selfish and doesn't fit this team turns out I was right.. Still think we should keep him for one more year and hope he restore somewhat of his value next season, can't be worse than this season.. Then we also have that Kevin Love trade that cost us almost dearly, where we almost lost harris and could have ended up with the worst possible fit for Jokic at the 4, still don't understand why he wanted love when he is a terrible fit, instead we ended up with millsap who fits great and kept harris lucky there and reminds me of GSW how we both dodge a bullet.

I will give him cred for that Millsap contract. I know some are okay with it like me and some think it's a bad one but hear me out.
He is arguably the best free agent ever for this team and we haven't showed we can get A class freeagents and he fits perfectly with this team and brought vetern leadership and is agreat locker room presence for this young team, we had enough money to sign him and he hasn't handicapped this team and is on a team option this year, we can restructre his deal and he has said he is willing to do that. He might not be worth the money we payed him but it was worth it, anyone that criticize that contract is clueless as far as I am concerned.

I also don't think he has the guts or can take this team to the next level, that doesn't mean we should trade for a star immeditely and not stay the course which I believe we should unless murray demands too much money then trade his ass for beal or something. He is great for a rebuilding team but we need to get to that next level to championship contender, look I think it's even possible to do that with this team just by internal grow potentially but that is a risk and depends on MPJ development and health.
He seems too friendly and holds onto assets for too long which end up costing us.

Let's be honest if he doesn't hit on that Jokic pick, he would have nothing to show for and we would still be in the lottery altough the same could be said for the bucks most likely but should be mentioned that possibly the biggest steal in NBA history changed how we view the guy (still gotta give credit for how he built the team not taking anything away from him) but the lottery is a crapshot and you have to be lucky, the thing is if he goes to the wizards he hasn't show he is good with trades and they need to trade beal and Wall somehow (good luck ) they won't be getting another Jokic. He will still be great for them considering they are going into rebuild mode and that's what he is best at, let see what he does if he goes. If he goes it will be a bad look for the org but as long as we get a first I'm good.

[Darklight]

btw two of the most important things I want to ask u guys. Do you think Connelly will take his guys with him? What will happend with our scouting team? And the most important thing, we need some compenstation!!! I want a first round pick from the wizards, they don't have their own second rounder until 2023 and no way is that enough. Seriously, I will lose my **** if they let him go and we don't get a first, they can keep their 19 pick. I want their 2020 pick unprotected, they might feel it's too much but then we can just keep Connelly, gotta pay up if you want one of the best, clippers had to do it for Doc. At worst they can have their 2020 pick protected and it becomes unprotected in 21 and if we are pushing it 2020 pick swap nothing less!!!! If our management let's him leave without anything!!!!!
If we get a first round pick I am good and fine with moving foward with AK considering everything that I have said otherwise the wizards can **** off it ain't like they are going anywhere anytime soon and they will get assets for beal.

[TunaFish]

Do you think Connelly will take his guys with him? What will happend with our scouting team? And the most important thing, we need some compenstation!!!

I think you have to remember that Artūras Karnišovas is actually the Nuggets' general manager while Connelly essentially over sees the entire organization after being the general manager previously. Karnišovas did the Millsap signing. Be that as it may, I think that the scouts have been working for Karnišovas last season and will likely remain.

I doubt the Wizards would be willing to part with a 1st. A 2nd might be possible but an exchange of cash will be the more likely outcome. The team has to be careful here because you need quality applicants for all positions who would not be afraid of joining the Nuggets and not miss a prime, once in a life time opportunity later. Asking for compensation that would prevent Connelly from moving on would be a black mark for the organization.

[The Rebel]

Read on Twitter

Looks like Connelly is staying

[skywalker33]

Very good news IMO. Guess he wants to enjoy our future championships !!

[TunaFish]

What a snub to the Wizards! Wonder if the Nuggets matched the offer?

[U hova]

crazy that he turned down money though