For years, Denver has been viewed as a mid-market city in the world of sports. But recent growth throughout the Mile High City is changing that perception. For a team like the Denver Nuggets who have plenty of money to spend, a change in culture could be the tipping point in bringing in a big-name free agent.
Freshly minted president of basketball operations Tim Connelly joined Eric Goodman and Les Shapiro of Afternoon Drive on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 to discuss factors that could be enticing to potential free agents.
“I think a handful of things. The city itself, beyond our organization, is really experiencing an unprecedented amount of growth,” Connelly said. “It’s become a very cosmopolitan and diverse city. Just around the [Pepsi Center], the Union Station development is a whole new city within a city. So, I think with more people comes more word of mouth and more appreciation for what Denver has to offer.”
Even more important than the scene off the court is the team’s play on it. Good players want to play with other good players; it’s as simple as that. Nikola Jokic is more than just a good player. His ability to make his teammates better sets him apart from other stars in the league, and free agents are taking notice. Connelly has not been shy about praising Jokic as a recruiting asset this offseason.
“On the court, a guy like Nikola Jokic is just a connector and such a playmaker, the league is taking notice,” Connelly said. “He’s the type of guy a lot of guys enjoy playing with.”
Connelly also touched on the team’s ability to execute a trade-and-sign for an upcoming free agent. In late February, rumors circulated throughout Denver that the Nuggets were making a move on Indiana Pacers superstar Paul George. However, despite packaging together a monster deal, George’s unwillingness to sign a long-term deal in Denver ultimately prevented any movement. Still, that has not discouraged Connelly from seeking out similar scenarios.
“We have to be our own biggest fans. So in that type of acquisition, for example, we would do so betting on ourselves, betting on our city, betting on the fan base,” Connelly said. “It’s a risk when you deal with guys with one year left. Often times it’s a short-term success and you lose the guy, but for an organization like ours I think you have to be willing to take chances and not be risk averse. So, if we pull the trigger on a trade such as that, we do it with the intention of putting our best foot forward and hopefully convincing the player that this is a place they can be long term.”
Listen to the full interview with Connelly, including his ideas on improving the Nuggets’ defense, in the podcast below.
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Catch Afternoon Drive with Goodman and Shapiro every weekday from 4p-6p on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of Colorado sports from Denver’s biggest sports talk lineup.
