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Denver Nuggets: Should the Denver have let Connelly Interview with the Washington Wizards?

Denver Nuggets: Should the Denver have let Connelly Interview with the Washington Wizards? by Michael Mannen

If Tim Connelly leaves the Denver Nuggets, the Nuggets should consider hiring Chauncey Billups as the new President of Basketball Operations.

Tim Connelly has recently been granted permission to take an interview for a job with the Washington Wizards and has been offered a position by the Washington Wizards organization.

If Connelly were to leave the Nuggets, he would leave giant shoes to fill within the Nugget’s organization.

So, who should replace Connelly as President of Basketball Operations if he decides to leave?Former Denver Nugget Point Guard Chauncey Billups would be the logical choice for the position.

Billups as a player was one of the best Point Guards in the history of the Denver Nugget franchise.When asking Nugget fans on Twitter and Facebook, Billups is easily the fan favorite for the Job.

Nugget Fans: If Connelly leaves, who should replace him? — Nugg Love (@Nugg_Love) May 17, 2019

Billups has led multiple NBA teams through deep playoff runs and knows what it takes to win a championship.

If there is any player or executive that can help the Nuggets get to the Western Conference Finals, it is Billups. In the fact the last time the Nuggets made it to the Western Conference Finals they were lead by Billups.

Especially a team like the Nuggets that has struggled defensively in the playoffs and are facing opponents like the Golden State Warriors who have significantly more talented players on their roster.

Billups has a career highlighted by winning through defense, success in the playoffs, and beating better teams in the playoffs. He was the Finals MVP for the only team that beat the Kobe and Shaq Lakers in the NBA finals. Talk about taking down a juggernaut.

As a player, Billups won a championship, received 5 All-Star selections, and was named to 2 All-NBA Defensive teams. Billups’s basketball expertise makes him the perfect person to take the Nuggets to the next level and to replace Connelly.

Previously, Billups has been a high profile candidate for many executive and coaching jobs in the NBA. He is a player that the current Nuggets can definitely respect.

Billups was a candidate for the Cleveland Cavaliers GM role two summers ago. It is reported that the Cavs made Billups a contract offer to be the General Manager. He ultimately turned down the offer.

He was even considered for the role of president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Mr. Big Shot has made it clear since the 2018 summer that he was potentially interested in taking an executive role with a team.

From his career in the NBA, Billups undoubtedly has contacts in every NBA team. He is also known by high school and college prospects that maybe interested in signing with the Nuggets.

Hiring Billups for the role of President of Basketball Operations may seem like a bad idea considering what the Lakers just went through with Magic Johnson.

However, hiring Mr. Big Shot is different in two ways.

First, the spotlight that Billups would be under with the Nuggets is different than what Magic had to deal with being an executive for the Lakers. This would allow Billups to make more risk as the President of Basketball Operations.

Secondly, Billlups would not have to deal with a player with the gravitas of a Lebron James. Lebron James is great, however, his demands on an organization have been well documented.

While the Nuggets have stars, their stars are more low-key than other big-time players in the NBA. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are not players that are constantly under the spotlight or in the media. However, they are NBA stars nonetheless. Jokic is definitely an MVP candidate this season and Murray will most likely be in the future.

If Billups were to take the position of President of Basketball Operations for the Nuggets, the Nuggets would be HIS team and he would have the freedom to make tough decisions that Magic Johnson did not necessarily have with the Lakers.

It would be bad for the Nuggets if Connelly were to leave, however, Billups would be his perfect replacement.