Nuggets to explore possibility of reuniting with Wolves’ Tim Connelly as GM?

The Kroenke family is expected to explore the possibility of reuniting with Tim Connelly, the former Denver Nuggets president of basketball operations who left in May 2022 to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves’ front office, per NBA insiders Sam Amick and Tony Jones of The Athletic.

Connelly holds an opt-out clause in his contract for this offseason. However, Minnesota’s new ownership group — Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore — is believed to be intent on keeping him.

If the Nuggets are unable to lure Connelly back, they could shift focus to Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd.

During Connelly’s tenure in Denver, coach Michael Malone had a more significant role in personnel decisions, per The Athletic. That influence reportedly diminished under recently dismissed Nuggets GM Calvin Booth, which had become a source of tension. Booth had considered parting ways with Malone prior to the team’s 2023 NBA championship run.

Booth reportedly engaged in extensive conversations with the Kroenkes before the start of the season but declined to sign what he believed was a below-market contract extension. He remained under the impression that a new deal was forthcoming. The Kroenkes later withdrew the offer following the team’s lackluster start.

As previously reported, Booth pushed for Malone to increase playing time for younger players he had drafted, including Jalen Pickett and Peyton Watson. Following the Nuggets’ playoff exit against Minnesota last season, Booth believed the regular-season rotation should have been expanded to preserve the starters’ workload. Malone, by contrast, felt the roster lacked balance and depth.

Booth’s offseason decisions, including awarding Zeke Nnaji a four-year contract and signing free agent Dario Saric, added further strain to the coach-executive relationship, Amick and Jones reported. Neither player has seen regular minutes in recent months.

Additionally, Malone’s preference for veteran guard Russell Westbrook — another offseason acquisition — over Pickett reportedly created further internal friction.

Westbrook’s future with the team remains unclear, even if he exercises his $3.4 million player option. Assistant coach David Adelman, who began his run as interim man during Wednesday’s win over Sacramento, was quicker to replace Westbrook with Pickett.

Meanwhile, standout guard Jamal Murray is expected to return from a hamstring injury on Friday.