In this special episode of the Locked on Denver Nuggets podcast, I am joined by Denver Nuggets President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly, to talk about how he built this year’s Denver Nuggets. He takes me behind the scenes on how he acquired Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic, Malik Beasley, and Juancho Hernangomez in the NBA draft, as well as adding Paul Millsap in free agency. It’s a great, 45-minute conversation that provides an excellent glimpse into how this team was assembled and some of the process behind scouting and identifying players in the NBA draft.

Timestamps

3:15 - Impressions of this season

6:30 - How has Gary Harris turned himself into such a great player?

11:00 - The scouting process with Nikola Jokic and when he first started to show signs of becoming a star

16:30 - The 2016 NBA Draft, Juancho Hernangomez

19:50 - Jamal Murray and what’s unique about him

23:30 - Malik Beasley’s upside

26:30 - Chasing Paul Millsap

28:45 - On Monte Morris being the most popular guy on the team

31:15 - Who is Jarred Vanderbilt?

35:45 - The blueprint for Thomas Welsh

37:30 - Michael Porter Jr. falling to the Nuggets on draft night