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Denver Nuggets: Why Tim Connelly deserves Executive of the Year

By Chris 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) /
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Tim Connelly has done a great job building a contender since taking over the reigns of the Denver Nuggets front office in 2013. He deserves the NBA Executive of the Year.

The Denver Nuggets have been one of the biggest surprises this season. Nikola Jokic has played well enough to throw himself into MVP talks, Denver has looked like the deepest team for most of the season and Paul Millsap has played up to the $30 million contract he signed a couple seasons ago.

And while the pieces of the roster deserve all the credit they’re getting, the person who put those pieces in place deserves just as much.

Tim Connelly took over the Nuggets in 2013. And while they were coming off a 57-win season, the organization was in shambles of sort.

Coach George Karl was fired — and the roster put together for his style didn’t last much longer.

But since then, Connelly has completely rebuilt the Nuggets roster. And the results are impressive.

How he’s done may be even more impressive. Jamal Murray (seventh overall in 2016) was Denver’s highest draft pick over that stretch.

Jokic — the Nuggets best player and first-time All-Star — was the 41st overall pick in 2014. Gary Harris was the 14th overall pick in that same draft.

Malik Beasley (19th overall in 2016) and Monte Morris (51st overall in 2017) have both earned themselves roles in the Nuggets long term plans.

The only big free agent signing came in the way of Millsap. And though the price tag may have been steep, he’s been valuable enough lately to deserve it.

Jon Horst has done a great job turning the Bucks into the best team in the league. Sean Marks has the Nets ahead of where anyone expected them to be — and did it all without a high lottery pick. And Elton Brand has wheeled and dealed the 76ers into serious contention out West.

But Horst inherited the league’s best asset in Giannis Antetokounmpo. People seem to forget D’Angelo Russell was a No. 2 overall pick of Los Angeles before being traded to Brooklyn. And Brand reaped all the rewards of the process without any of the suffering.

Connelly has built a winner in Denver that looks built to last. Jokic and Gary Harrris are on team-friendly deals.

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And the Millsap deal isn’t guaranteed after this year, opening up cap space for this offseason – whether they negotiate a new deal with him or not.

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