Report: Michael Malone, Nuggets’ Front Office Not ‘Seeing Eye To Eye’

According to NBA insider Zach Lowe of ESPN, Michael Malone and the Denver Nuggets‘ front office are not “seeing eye to eye.”

The Nuggets lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic and signed Dario Saric and Russell Westbrook this offseason.

“There are rumblings that the coaching staff and front office, or at least the head coach and the front office, aren’t exactly seeing eye to eye in Denver,” Lowe said on his podcast. “To a degree even unusual for the NBA.”

The Nuggets won the 2023 title against the Miami Heat. They went 57-25 last season and lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in seven games. 

Malone signed an extension with the Nuggets last season that runs through the 2026-27 season. Calvin Booth signed an extension in 2022 when he ascended to the top decision-maker post with the franchise after the departure of Tim Connelly.

Booth’s deal expires after next season. 

Jamal Murray and the Nuggets haven’t yet agreed to a contract extension, causing rumors that a deal may not happen. Murray will make $36 million next season in the final year of his contract. He signed a five-year, $195 million deal with Denver in 2019. 

One of the top guards in the NBA, Murray averaged 21.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks last season while shooting 48.1% from the field, 42.5% from beyond the arc and 85.3% from the free-throw line. He has a close relationship with Malone. 

Murray was the seventh overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft out of Kentucky. He has career averages of 17.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks. 

According to NBA reporter Bennett Durando of the Denver Post, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic endorsed the idea of the Nuggets acquiring Westbrook, who is still looking to win his first championship. 

The NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles, Westbrook averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks in 2023-24 for the Los Angeles Clippers while shooting 45.4% from the field, 27.3% from beyond the arc and 68.8% from the foul line.