Almost a year after his sudden dismissal from Denver, Calvin Booth accepts his choice

« I think we’d both agree that a lot of it is overkill. » That’s how he expresses himself Calvin Booth during his appearance on the Kevin O’Connor show to discuss his dismissal from the Nuggets, a little less than a year agosimultaneously with Mike Malone. And this, ten days before the playoffs. A double decision that surprised many.

Let’s remember that they are two men were in deep disagreement about the adoption strategy for winning the new title. For a general manager, if the club wanted to win more titles in the ten-year period offered by Nikola Jokic, he had to develop the young players in the group, like Peyton Watson, even if it meant letting them make mistakes. Where the coach wanted, on the contrary, to favor the elements of experience.

President Josh Kroenke eventually signaled the end of the hiatus by firing both men outright. Today, Calvin Booth believes four factors combined to cost him his job. First, the Nikola Jokic effect: when you have the best player in the world, everything else goes without saying.

The legacy of Tim Connelly

Second, the friction between the seasoned champion trainer and the “newbie” GM. The former NBA center took this first position in 2022, thus inheriting an ideal situation behind Tim Connelly, who did a good part of the work (the selections of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., the transfer for Aaron Gordon, etc.).

Third, management. Calvin Booth believes the Kroenke family, despite their sporting success, do not place the same value on managers as other franchises. ” Whether it’s Mark Warkentien (GM from 2006 to 2010), Tim or Masai (Ujiri, GM from 2010 to 2013), there always comes a time when they no longer place that value on leaders. », advance Calvin Booth.

And the fourth factor: I made it look too easy. Anyone who is really good at something, when they make it look easy, means that it took a lot of effort to get there. (It took) a lifetime of playing basketball, coaching, talking, recruiting. To come in like that, put together a championship team and win the title. »

The puzzle after the title

2023 title therefore, after making a move to regain Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and signing Bruce Brown. The GM also drafted Christian Brown with the 21st pick and made a move to move up in the draft to select Peyton Watson at the 30th pick.

The problem was the post-title hangover. Bruce Brown went to Indiana and Jeff Green got a better offer in Houston. The following summer, “KCP” went to Orlando. Calvin Booth signed several veterans, including Russell Westbrook, Dario Saric and Justin Holiday. But his priority was to draft young players to one day make up for lost rotations.

Enough to find yourself faced with puzzles. ” You want to take (medicine) to get rid of this headache, but it makes you want to sleep. Do you want to get rid of your headache or not? Because if you want to get rid of it, you have to take the whole pill. You can’t separate Peyton Watson and Christian Brown from some of the other things that people weren’t happy with. »

The youth could finally develop

« The reality is, if we re-sign Bruce Brown, if we re-sign KCP, or if they leave and we sign veterans…would Christian Brown and Peyton Watson be doing what they’re doing now? Absolutely not », answers the manager, aware that the two young people at that time were not developing at this level.

No doubt he will be able to say the same, looking back, about Julian Strother and Jalen Pickett, who he picked up in the draft next year, in 2023. We will understand that the former leader is satisfied with the talent he has been able to demonstrate in the recruitment of young people, among whom we can mention Colin Gilkes, who became a finalist this season where he left.

However, the existing tension with Mike Malone was too strong to last. “ Never a physical fight in public. Never have a verbal argument in public. What’s the problem? », asks the former GM in a funny wording. “ How many teams do you think are happening now? I don’t think this is unique to our situation. It happens to every NBA team to some extent “, is evacuated.

A new position is waiting

The handsome, former decision maker believes his former Nuggets work partner deserves a second chance in the NBA. ” He doesn’t mind commenting on matches. But he’s probably dying to coach an NBA team tomorrow. And he deserves it. He is a coach of champions ,” wishes one who serves as a consultant for college basketball programs.

As for him, he’s still waiting for a phone call from the franchise…” This is where this whole affair took on disproportionate proportions. If you look at what I’ve accomplished – my winning percentage, my draft pick, working with a coach like Coach Malone for my first GM job – I just don’t understand why no one is knocking on my door. », term-t-il.