minimus wrote:I wonder whether it was the same GM who built current DEN team that is all about chemistry AND traded for Gobert and now we have little chemistry in MIN... I prefer to think that Connelly first trade was change of direction from offensive minded team to defensive minded, and all following moves such as Anderson signing and Conley trade were steps in this direction, so our chemistry both in offense and defense will grow
https://dunkingwithwolves.com/2023/05/28/mike-malone-reveals-tim-connelly-almost-ruined-nuggets/
Keep in mind that most of that article is based on this article https://theathletic.com/4538239/2023/05/21/nuggets-michael-malone-jamal-murray-exclusive-interviews
But for Malone, whose Nuggets tenure has long served as a referendum on the decision of Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé to fire him just 24 games into his second season, this is all an indictment of that sort of knee-jerk reaction ethos that is so prevalent in pro sports. Many owners and executives, as we’ve been reminded in these past few weeks in places like Phoenix (the firing of Monty Williams), Milwaukee (Mike Budenholzer), and Philadelphia (Doc Rivers), tend to reach for the panic button when the desired result doesn’t come quickly enough for their liking. So no, in other words, Malone’s experience back in his Sacramento days was hardly an outlier then or now.
But this Nuggets story, one that never could have unfolded if they hadn’t taken the long view all along the way, is the kind of thing that should make power brokers around the league think twice.
What if the Nuggets had parted ways with Malone back in 2018, when the Nuggets’ overtime loss to Minnesota on the last day of the regular season kept them out of the playoffs for the third time in his three-year tenure?
What if they’d decided not to build around Jokić, whose unorthodox style and physique created so much doubt around the league during those early years? What if they’d pivoted off of Jamal Murray — both before and after the ACL tear that cost him all of last season?
I think this group realized that — when healthy — we have a chance to do something really special. And I think the guys on our team, especially the core guys, really appreciate that it’s the NBA and it’s a business but we have a collegiate family type of atmosphere. And guys have all improved here. I think they realize that the grass is not always greener, you know what I mean? It’s not always greener, and I think Nikola realizes that, ‘Ok, I’m playing for a franchise that has made me their guy and built everything around me.’ Jamal Murray, the amount of growth and maturity is just incredible. Our guys aren’t leaving to go here or there. Our thing is organic. It’s real. And guys have bought into that. And that’s why, now that we’re healthy, I think we’re back to showing everybody what we’re capable of.
I remember Tim (Connelly) calling me up, (and saying), ‘Hey, we can trade Jamal for this guy.’ (This was) probably three or four years ago — (and it was) a marquee player. I said ‘No.’ Like, ‘What? Let’s not rush this. We have a patient ownership group. Let’s f—ing take our time and build this the right way. A bigger name is not always better.’ There are countless, different examples (like that). (Nuggets president) Josh (Kroenke) said to me after we lost to Minnesota (in the aforementioned regular-season finale in 2018), and Josh was like, ‘Man, I’m so excited about our two young players — Jamal and Nikola just balled out in Game 82.’ It was the play-in game before the play-in, and Josh’s reaction was, ‘Wow, we’re gonna be really good in a few years.’ Just the ability of ownership to be patient and not overreact (was key). Patience is not something you talk about in the NBA, or pro sports. And I think I, and we, are a perfect example of the results of being patient and saying, ‘You know what? Let’s continue to let this grow and marinate and mature and then we can see what we really have.’ And I think we’re seeing it.
The last quoted section is basically what the entire DunkingWithWolves blog post is about, but I see it as Connelly bringing up ideas to potentially improve the team and listening to his coach before making a decision (and trusting his judgement). Even though there may have been pressure (much like he is currently facing) to make a move, I think that shows strength, not some sort of weakness/lack of judgement the blog post was trying to imply by it's title.
The smart move was to turn players that weren't a long-term fit into an impact player (Gobert) and take advantage of KAT's prime and an immerging star in Ant. The REALLY BAD move that most correlates to trading Murray at that time would have been including McDaniels in a trade for a more well established player, which Connelly and the team refused to do.
Which shows me that it's the same Tim Connelly that trusted the judgement of his coach. Again, I think that article spins what is actually a positive trait in Connelly (listening to the experts around him) and tries to sell it as if he was somehow propped up by Malone. Also, keep in mind that they never named the player that they were thinking of trading for...
