Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth is staying put.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth has officially withdrawn from the Sacramento Kings’ search for a new executive vice president of basketball operations. Woj’s announcement comes on the heels of Denver’s historic 3-1 comeback against the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals.
Denver Nuggets GM Calvin Booth has withdrawn from the Sacramento Kings search for a new head of basketball operations, sources tell ESPN. Booth was promoted to GM under President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly after Arturas Karnisovas left to run Bulls.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 16, 2020
ESPN’s Marc J. Spears reported that Booth had interviewed with the Kings for the position on Sunday, showing that Booth had at least a passing interest in the position. While Denver has obviously been more successful than Sacramento, the Kings do have worthwhile talent on their roster and he would have been the top decision-maker in Sacramento. With the Nuggets, president of basketball operations Tim Connelly is the top decision-maker.
As Wojnarowski notes, Booth was recently promoted to general manager, as the team’s previous general manager (Arturas Karnivosas) defected to the Chicago Bulls. If Booth had left the organization, the effects would likely have been felt in both their upcoming draft and free agency.
Denver has four impending free agents that are rotation players (Mason Plumlee, Torrey Craig, Paul Millsap and Jerami Grant) and have a first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. This offseason may not be the one to transform the Nuggets into perennial Conference Finals contenders but it could be one that sets the team back if it’s not played right.
Suffice it to say, Booth is extremely important to Denver. Especially right now.