Nuggets Part Ways With Warkentien and Chapman

The Nuggets shook up their front office Tuesday when they decided not to resign two of their chief front office executive, Mark Warkentien and Rex Chapman, according to our friend Ben Hochman over at the Denver Post.

Both Warkentien and Chapman’s contracts were up this summer and the duo did an admiral job in the front office, but with the uncertainties with Carmelo Anthony and his contract extension the Kroenke regime decided to start over new with a fresh crop at the top.

Warkentien was awarded the Executive of the Year in 2009 after he pulled off the Chauncey Billups trade, and added cheap free agents Dahntay Jones and Chris Andersen. The Nuggets tied a franchise-record 54 wins and advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Warkentien was with the team for five seasons and Chapman four.

Executive Vice President Bret Bearup remains with the team, and Stan Kroenke’s son, Josh, is expected to be more active with the front office. Josh Kroenke is the current vice president of team development and is in line to be the future owner of the Nuggets.

Tommy Sheppard and Masai Ujiri are also being considered options in the front office. Sheppard is with Washington’s front office and Ujiri is working for the Toronto Raptors. Former Phoenix Suns executive David Griffin may be another option.

This decision may put a damper in resigning Anthony as Warkentien came out and said they want Anthony to be the Nuggets ‘John Elway’. However, now that Warkentien is no longer affiliated with the squad there is no guarantee Anthony is either.

While Anthony hasn’t stated which way his feeling, he said earlier this summer that he wasn’t going to rush the decision and may take time to make it.

There was no doubt that when rumors came out that Warkentien may join Portland didn’t make Stan Kroenke too happy and like he has done before he proved who is the boss.

In other news, part of the Nuggets schedule has been announced and the team is set to play on Christmas Day in Oklahoma City against Kevin Durant and the Thunder, one of the teams that should battle Denver in the Northwest Conference. The Nugs will travel to Houston to face the Rockets in season opener.