Shams: Nuggets Fire Malone

[slightly biased bias fan]

I wonder if Jokic asks for a trade in the offseason. He does not seem to be the type to ask out, but never say never in the NBA.

[aefgogreen]

Is it possible that Jokic wanted him out?  He doesn't seem the type, but I can't think of any other reason they'd fire Malone at this point.

[Donoghus]

Jokic is under contract thru 2026-2027.  Player option for 2027-2028.

I have to imagine if they trade Jokic, it'd make the Luka outrage look like a church picnic.

[Who]

GM is gone too.

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
3m
Full clean out: The Denver Nuggets are also firing general manager Calvin Booth, sources tell ESPN. Michael Malone and Booth both out today.

Firing Calvin Booth is not much of a shocker. He has struggled to put together quality supporting casts around Jokic.

Firing Mike Malone is crazy. He gets a lot of criticism from Nuggets fans but often little credit for what he has done well. He has been absolutely superb for Jokic. Just as he was for D Cousins in Sacramento before that. A lot of other coaches wouldn't have developed either of those players as well and allowed them to reach the heights they did.

[Donoghus]

Underdog NBA

@UnderdogNBA
Coaches fired this season:

Michael Malone: 471-327 with Nuggets
Taylor Jenkins: 250-214 with Grizzlies
Mike Brown: 107-88 with Kings

[SparzWizard]

It's an owners league. If you can't give me wins and trophies/more trophies, you gotta leave.

Nuggets could be an 8th seed by tonight and may have to compete for a play-in spot. They also underperformed last season, failing to defend their title and losing to the Wolves. That should not be the case when you have arguably the best player in the current era...is probably what Korenke thought.

You can thank Nico Harrison setting the precedent for this that anybody can be traded whether you are a superstar player (or coach).

Let this be a warning for Joe, his job isn't safe here. That being said, I wouldn't mind Mike Malone as the next HC in Boston or even coming here to help consult during the playoffs.

[slightly biased bias fan]

Underdog NBA

@UnderdogNBA
Coaches fired this season:

Michael Malone: 471-327 with Nuggets
Taylor Jenkins: 250-214 with Grizzlies
Mike Brown: 107-88 with Kings

Even crazier:

Malone wins 🏆 in 2023, fired in 2025
Budenholzer wins 🏆 in 2021, fired in 2023
Vogel wins 🏆 in 2020, fired in 2022
Nurse wins 🏆 in 2019, fired in 2023
Lue wins 🏆 in 2016, fired in 2018

[SparzWizard]

Brown, Kristaps, picks for Joker...get this done Brad before he goes to LA to pair up with Luka.

[slightly biased bias fan]

It's an owners league. If you can't give me wins and trophies/more trophies, you gotta leave.

Let this be a warning for Joe, his job isn't safe here. That being said, I wouldn't mind Mike Malone as the next HC in Boston or even coming here to help consult during the playoffs.

If I was much of a gambler, I would put money on Malone being the New York Knicks head coach by the start of next season.

The Knicks players are beginning to turn on Thibs for his excessive minutes. Michael Malone was an assistant for the Knicks (2001-04) and his father was involved with the franchise sporadically for 3 decades.

[Birdman]

I don?t get these teams in the playoff hunt firing their coach especially in April

[slightly biased bias fan]

Brown, Kristaps, picks for Joker...get this done Brad before he goes to LA to pair up with Luka.

If Jokic was not adverse to staying in the west, unfortunately you would imagine Houston would have the best trade package.

Sengun, Sheppard, Green, Suns & Nets picks

[Vermont Green]

Underdog NBA

@UnderdogNBA
Coaches fired this season:

Michael Malone: 471-327 with Nuggets
Taylor Jenkins: 250-214 with Grizzlies
Mike Brown: 107-88 with Kings

Even crazier:

Malone wins 🏆 in 2023, fired in 2025
Budenholzer wins 🏆 in 2021, fired in 2023
Vogel wins 🏆 in 2020, fired in 2022
Nurse wins 🏆 in 2019, fired in 2023
Lue wins 🏆 in 2016, fired in 2018

Mazzulla wins 🏆 in 2024, fired in ???

Isn't this still what some want?

And hopefully:

Mazzulla wins 🏆 in 2025.......

[Birdman]

Was Westbrook release??

[Celtics2021]

Underdog NBA

@UnderdogNBA
Coaches fired this season:

Michael Malone: 471-327 with Nuggets
Taylor Jenkins: 250-214 with Grizzlies
Mike Brown: 107-88 with Kings

Even crazier:

Malone wins 🏆 in 2023, fired in 2025
Budenholzer wins 🏆 in 2021, fired in 2023
Vogel wins 🏆 in 2020, fired in 2022
Nurse wins 🏆 in 2019, fired in 2023
Lue wins 🏆 in 2016, fired in 2018

Nurse was a 4-year gap between title and firing, and was under .500 with a 2-4 record in the playoffs in his final 3 years, so that is a bit different than the rest.

Also, Vogel has been fired twice since his bubble title in 2020.  Not sure how long Coach Bud lasts either.  Feels like owners are the ones starting the equivalent of Fire Joe threads on their fan sites the way they churn through coaches.

[Who]

Brown, Kristaps, picks for Joker...get this done Brad before he goes to LA to pair up with Luka.

If Jokic was not adverse to staying in the west, unfortunately you would imagine Houston would have the best trade package.

Sengun, Sheppard, Green, Suns & Nets picks

Sengun would be a cool replacement for Jokic. Similar type of player. A skilled passing center. They could keep some of the same things going with Sengun. Then the extra pieces to improve the rest of the roster.