Credit to the Kroenkes for Cleaning House Late into the Season

[Ssj16]

At the time, it seemed like a bad move to not only get rid of your coach but your GM as well, with several days left into the season when you were about to try and make a playoff run.

Most of the media thought this was a bad move. I felt like it was high risk high reward myself.

Based on the way the Nuggets finished off the regular season and how they competed in the playoffs, it definitely look like it paid off.

I would say now it's paying off in dividends for the following reasons:

1. I think the Nuggets players built up a lot of confidence and momentum knowing they took OKC to 7 games even after they their most lackluster and dysfunctional season yet with this championship core.

2. It gave Adelman some reps, so he already built a repoire with the team and could hit the ground running rather than being a true rooking coach trying to figure it out at the start of 2025/2026 season.

TLDR: I feel that the firing of Malone and the GM late last year gave Denver a head start on their reset and it's attributing to their current success (along with players they picked up). Other teams should be more bullish and not be afraid of the media backlash.

[Exp0sed]

At the time, it seemed like a bad move to not only get rid of your coach but your GM as well, with several days left into the season when you were about to try and make a playoff run.

Most of the media thought this was a bad move. I felt like it was high risk high reward myself.

Based on the way the Nuggets finished off the regular season and how they competed in the playoffs, it definitely look like it paid off.

I would say now it's paying off in dividends for the following reasons:

1. I think the Nuggets players built up a lot of confidence and momentum knowing they took OKC to 7 games even after they their most lackluster and dysfunctional season yet with this championship core.

2. It gave Adelman some reps, so he already built a repoire with the team and could hit the ground running rather than being a true rooking coach trying to figure it out at the start of 2025/2026 season.

TLDR: I feel that the firing of Malone and the GM late last year gave Denver a head start on their reset and it's attributing to their current success (along with players they picked up). Other teams should be more bullish and not be afraid of the media backlash.

It waa a great move. They wouldn't have won it anyway with Murray playing poorly all season, everyone pretty banged up (and tired) and a rotation of 6 guys and WB.

Hiring the interim Gm's that late in the season, allowed them to make moves as soon as the regular season started and get the right pieces

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[badpotato]

He fired bad GM and vastly overrated coach who will get exposed as Jokic merchant right after he gets hired somwhere else- just like Monty was exposed as CP3 merchant.

Kudos for the timing - he took a risk which i belive actually helped team morale and Nuggets had a good showing in playoffs.

[zero rings]

Malone was so f*cking annoying man. I can’t believe the Nuggets tolerated him for 10 years.

[Alatan]

Multiplication by subtraction of you ask me. Should have done it ages ago. Now if they could only move Nnaji somwhere and solve the bench creation issue the Nuggets would be set.

I also expect Cam to get out of the slump of his life.

[Fadeaway_Jumper]

Malone and the GM who were fired actually built the team you are hyping up and won a championship, while you are celebrating the current staff for taking 7 games to lose in the playoffs.

What am I missing here?

[Chuck Everett]

Malone and the GM who were fired actually built the team you are hyping up and won a championship, while you are celebrating the current staff for taking 7 games to lose in the playoffs.

What am I missing here?

He has a good point here. This could be a premature victory lap.

[SkyHook]

Malone and the GM who were fired actually built the team you are hyping up and won a championship, while you are celebrating the current staff for taking 7 games to lose in the playoffs.

What am I missing here?

He has a good point here. This could be a premature victory lap.

Tim Connelly built the championship core though. His last big move in Denver was bringing in Gordon. Calvin Booth coasted to the championship the next year. From an outsider's perspective I don't know that there was much in the way of positive contribution from him. Malone, despite his flaws and quirks, likely has a more lasting positive influence going forward even though his tenure ended poorly as a result of the conflict with Booth.

[ItsDanger]

Despite what rantings you read on here generally, some executives in ownership are better than NBA personnel. I know that might shock some here.

[Chuck Everett]

Malone and the GM who were fired actually built the team you are hyping up and won a championship, while you are celebrating the current staff for taking 7 games to lose in the playoffs.

What am I missing here?

He has a good point here. This could be a premature victory lap.

Tim Connelly built the championship core though. His last big move in Denver was bringing in Gordon. Calvin Booth coasted to the championship the next year. From an outsider's perspective I don't know that there was much in the way of positive contribution from him. Malone, despite his flaws and quirks, likely has a more lasting positive influence going forward even though his tenure ended poorly as a result of the conflict with Booth.

Bruce Brown, KCP and Christian Braun were all Booth though (Jeff Green was already there when Connelly left). And those guys were all in the rotation come playoff time. Connelly did bring in Aaron Gordon, but it wouldn't be fair to remove what Booth and Malone accomplished during that title run.

[SkyHook]

He has a good point here. This could be a premature victory lap.

Tim Connelly built the championship core though. His last big move in Denver was bringing in Gordon. Calvin Booth coasted to the championship the next year. From an outsider's perspective I don't know that there was much in the way of positive contribution from him. Malone, despite his flaws and quirks, likely has a more lasting positive influence going forward even though his tenure ended poorly as a result of the conflict with Booth.

Bruce Brown, KCP and Christian Braun were all Booth though (Jeff Green was already there when Connelly left). And those guys were all in the rotation come playoff time. Connelly did bring in Aaron Gordon, but it wouldn't be fair to remove what Booth and Malone accomplished during that title run.

I give a great deal of the credit for the championship to Malone. I've been a fan since his days in Sacramento. Just going off of VORP for the playoffs their championship season, Connelly's guys accounted for 87+% of the positive contribution to winning. I can give Booth some credit for his 13% portion.

[Ssj16]

Malone and the GM who were fired actually built the team you are hyping up and won a championship, while you are celebrating the current staff for taking 7 games to lose in the playoffs.

What am I missing here?

I'll give both Boothe and Malone credit for what they've done initially but past success does not equal future success. Malone was showing limitations as a coach with his inability to develop younger guys and Boothe showed that he could be difficult to work with.

At any rate, this team and the vibes are way better now than it was last year. I believe Malone and Boothe ran their course.

[zimpy27]

I think it's possible that Malone is not good and Nuggets were held back by him.

[GrindCityHustle]

They realized all their success was always Jokic. You could put David Khan as their GM and as long as they got a motivated Jokic they can compete each year. He can play with anyone and make them look good.