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Denver Nuggets extend Tim Connelley’s contract in wake of Dell Demps firing

ByChris Bolin|
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 19: General Manager Tim Connelly of the Denver Nuggets talks to the media before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 19, 2016 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 19: General Manager Tim Connelly of the Denver Nuggets talks to the media before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 19, 2016 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Only hours after Dell Demps was fired as General Manager of the New Orleans Pelicans, the Denver Nuggets have agreed to a contract extension with President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly.

It’s been a busy day in many front offices around the league. Well, maybe not many but at least a couple.

This morning the New Orleans Pelicans — past the trade deadline but still only beginning to wade through all the Anthony Davis drama — fired General Manager Dell Demps.

Soon after, the Nuggets put the minds basketball fans across the Mile High City at ease, agreeing to a contract extension with President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly.

Demps has been in New Orleans for nine years, guiding them to the playoffs three times. Connely has been with the Nuggets for four-plus seasons now, finishing over .500 just once — a 46-36 campaign last season.

But they are obviously trending in opposite directions.

Connelly’s plan is coming together in a big way in Denver as the Nuggets sit at 39-18 — good for second in the Western Conference.

Connelly has built a mostly-homegrown core in Denver without a top-5 draft pick. Jamal Murray is the Nuggets highest pick on the roster at No. 7.

Gary Harris and Malik Beasley were both taken in the mid-first round, and All-Star Nikola Jokic and Monte Morris were both selected in the second round.

The Pelicans are sitting at 13th in the West at 26-33, and many believe Demps made a mistake not trading Anthony Davis before the trade deadline. Now, he’s playing sparingly — just 16 minutes in a win over the Thunder Thursday — as the Pelicans start to #TankForZion.

Connelly was immediately linked to the New Orleans job — whether legitimately or not — due to his history with the Pelicans. He was with the Pelicans — then the Hornets — from 2010 to 2013, serving as assistant GM to Demps.

The details of the deal haven’t been released, but it looks like the Nuggets are planning on keeping Connelly around for a long time.

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