Maize's New Nuggets | Building A Champion, At A Mile High

[Maize08]

[Maize08]

Nuggets Decline Option On Chandler
Wilson Chandler was a hot name at the NBA trade deadline. When it became clear the Nuggets were sellers at the deadline, teams did inquire on the versatile wing player. Set to make $7,171,662 next season, the team has decided to move on - declining the option, making Chandler an unrestricted free agent. Chandler finished the season as the team's third leading scorer (11.5 PPG) behind Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried. Statistically, it was one of this best and most efficient seasons.

Head Coach Mike D'Antoni has only been in town for a less than a month, but the roster is already starting to get overhauled. Darrell Arthur and Will Barton join Chandler as unrestricted free agents, leaving Denver. Randy Foye, the veteran combo guard will stay on for one more seaon. The 31 year old Foye will make $3,130,000 million in 2015-16.

Beyond those moves, the team is again 'active' in many NBA rumors. Leading up to the NBA Draft, the Nuggets have been interested in shopping their sixth overall pick. Even more surprising, the trade rumors swirling around power forward Kenneth Faried.

Faried, who will be 26 when the next NBA season starts, just finished his fourth year in the league. Drafted out of Morehead State with the 22nd pick in the 2011 draft, "the manimal" has become a fan favorite. Averaging 16 points and 11 rebounds per game for his career, Faried has a new contract that kicks in for next season.

Faried recently restructured his contract extension with the Nuggets. A four year deal worth $50 million dollars, many believe that number is part of the team's motivation to move Faried. More than that, he has been outspoken and critical of the organization. His style of play never fit previous coach Brian Shaw. But, he seems a great fit for the up-tempo style of Mike D'Antoni.

Coach D'Antoni has not commented on Faried, other than to say he looks forward to working with the young forward. Beyond Faried, it looks like no one on the roster is safe. This major overhaul could continue as the team starts to take on the identity of its' new coach.

[Maize08]

[Jumpman14]

Being a Memphis Tiger fan I hate seeing you let Barton go. Think he could be a good scoring punch off the bench.

[Maize08]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jumpman14

Being a Memphis Tiger fan I hate seeing you let Barton go. Think he could be a good scoring punch off the bench.

He wouldn't re-sign and is someone I'm targeting in free agency. A perfect guard for the offense. He can be a solid role player sharing minutes with Foye and Harris off the bench.

[Maize08]

Nuggets Announce Billups As Ast. GM, Also Add Analytics Dept.
Days before the NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets called a special press conference. General Manager Tim Connelly was expected to field questions about the draft and off-season. Instead, in a bit of a surprising move, the team introduced Chauncey Billups as Assistant General Manager.

Billups, 38, spent 20 seasons as a player in the NBA. Five of those were in Denver on two separate stops (1998-2000, 2008-2011). Billups looked like a journeyman, before being traded to the Pistons. That's where his career took off. The starting point guard for a team that made six straight Eastern Conference Finals; he made five straight All Star games, and named to the NBA Second Team (2006), and Third Teams (2007, 2009). But most importantly, an NBA Champion and Finals MVP in 2004.

Even more than that, Billups was credited for having a great basketball mind and being a champion teammate. He won the prized J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, the league's Sportsmanship Award, and NBA Teammate of the Year throughout his career. Since retiring in 2014, he has made appearances as an analyst on ESPN and NBA TV.

When the Denver Nuggets fired Brian Shaw, Billups was a leading candidate. Interviewing for the job in early May, GM Tim Connelly said the organization wanted to find Billups a spot. They did just that, making Billups an Assistant General Manager.

The team's other Assistant GM, Arturas Karnisovas, will continue to focus primarily on scouting and day-to-day operations. Billups will assist primarily in player personnel evaluation.

This comes days after the organization sent out a press release about some new additions and changes to the front office. The team hired Keith Goldner as the Director of Advanced Scouting and Analytics. Goldner has worked before in the NBA, working with the Thunder and 76ers in statistical evaluation and 'information logistics.' Recently, he was the Chief Analyst of numberfire, a sports analytics company.

Tommy Balcetis, the organization's Manager of Basketball Analytics, will now work directly with Goldner. Balcetis will be in charge of using XY SportsVu data, and integrating that system into game-to-game analysis.

The Nuggets have been aggressive in bulking up the front office. Adding Billups, a "natural leader" will help as the team continues to build the roster. More than that, the organization has shown they are embracing technology and forward-thinking.

[Maize08]

[Maize08]

Nuggets Send Faried To Knicks
One day before the NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets decided to trade, arguably their best player. Kenneth Faried has been traded to the New York Knicks for forward Cleanthony Early, an unprotected 2017 First Round Pick, and the right to swap first round draft picks in 2018.

Kenneth Faried, the 25 year old power forward, had been a name rumored to move all off-season. Even before then, Faried was a popular name as the Nuggets were tagged as 'sellers' at the NBA's trade deadline. Faried was a player that did not seem to fit former coach Brian Shaw's style. However, he seemed a perfect fit for D'Antoni's up-tempo style. Leaving many curious as to why the Nuggets were looking to trade him.

Rumors out of Denver said Faried had been frustrated with the organization. Reports were Faried "was not well liked" inside the organization. The front office was also hesitant to pay the young forward, with his new extension set to kick in. Faried was set to make $12.5 million per season, over the next four years.

So an upset player set to hit a pay-day was shipped off, before he even played for Coach D'Antoni. The Nuggets are excited about what they receive in the deal. Starting with forward Cleanthony Early. Early was the 34th overall pick in last year's draft, out of Wichita State. Early was a prolific and versatile scorer in college, but had struggled a bit in his transition to the NBA.

Last season with the Knicks, he struggled to find his shot in varied minutes on the floor. He appeared in 40 games, most coming later in the season. He shot 31% from 3-point range, a stat that appeared troublesome. Not to the Nuggets and GM Tim Connelly who believes Early will be used "differently" in Denver.

"Early is a guy we really liked (coming out of Wichita State)," said Connelly. "But getting used to the speed and defense in the NBA, it's different. He's a bright kid and that's a guy that just needed better looks. He wasn't given chances to get into the paint, or many catch-and-shoot looks. I think he is young, still learning and could take off if he's given the right chance."

He will get that chance in Denver, likely playing behind Danilo Gallinari at the small forward spot. Also included in the trade was the Knicks' 2017 first round pick, unprotected. Meaning Denver has the right to swap picks with New York in 2016 and 2018, and outright own their pick in 2017. The Knicks are picking first this season, likely to pair Faried in the post with Duke's Jahlil Okafor.

As for the Nuggets, they are slotted at six for now. There is still speculation they want to move positions in the draft. The added draft picks coming in trades for Timofey Mozgov, Arron Afflalo and now Faried gives the team a chance to package picks. While some were surprised at the Nuggets return for Faried, it seemed a savvy business move. They continue to stockpile picks, clear cap space, and rid the organization of an unhappy (and possibly "not well liked") player.