The Denver Nuggets did the unthinkable and fired head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth with three games remaining in the regular season. People knew Malone could be dismissed during the summer if the Nuggets were an early playoff exit, but nobody expected it to happen so soon.
Booth didn't sign the extension he thought he was getting, so while the Kroenkes' decision to move on from him wasn't necessarily surprising, the timing was. He and Malone didn't have a good relationship, so rather than choose one or the other, the Nuggets got rid of both.
David Adelman assumed the interim head coach position. He has been with the organization since 2017, so it wasn't a tough transition. Adelman took over amid a four-game losing streak with Denver at risk of falling into the Play-In Tournament. Under Adelman, the Nuggets won their last three games, securing the No. 4 seed in the playoffs.
The postseason will be the real test for Adelman, but he might've already locked in the job to officially become Denver's next head coach. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported on Wednesday that Adelman "has a real chance to keep the job going forward." Scotto added that the interim head coach has "the support of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and other core members of the franchise."
Will David Adelman be named the Nuggets' next head coach?
Adelman said he hasn't thought about the postseason as an audition, but that he's focused on the team. That's the right mindset to have. He wants to make the most of his current opportunity, which could, of course, result in losing the interim tag.
It helps that Adelman has Jokic and Murray (among others) backing him. Jokic isn't the type of star who makes demands, but keeping him satisfied should be the top priority. His boiling frustration was cited as one of the reasons why the Kroenkes fired Malone.
Fans should be reassured by Jokic's support of Adelman, given the concern that the three-time MVP could want to leave Denver. To be clear, Jokic hasn't said anything about a trade, but there's been speculation because of the end-of-the-season chaos. Things have seemingly calmed down in Denver, which is a great sign.
Another form of pandemonium will soon arrive in Denver, but that's normal for this time of year. It's almost time for the first round of the playoffs. The Nuggets will face off against Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers. It will be an audition (of some sort) for Adelman, but he's not thinking about that. He's concentrated on the task at hand.