After weeks of speculation, Denver Nuggets president of operations Tim Connelly has been granted permission to interview for the Wizards vacant President of Basketball Operations position. The Wizards have had discussions over the past few weeks with several candidates to replace former President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfield to include interim president of basketball operations Tommy Sheppard, former Cavaliers and Hawks general manager Danny Ferry, and Oklahoma City Thunder VP of basketball operations Troy Weaver. However, Connelly’s proven success in Denver and local ties to the D.C. area makes him one of the most ideal options.
There’s several valid reports confirming that Tim Connelly of the Denver Nuggets is in DC today interviewing for the #Wizards GM position.
— Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) May 17, 2019
Connelly grew up in Baltimore and graduated from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. He worked ten years with the Wizards and became their director of player personnel. He joined the New Orleans Hornets’ front office in 2010 before heading to Denver in 2013.
It was under Connelly’s direction that the Nuggets successfully became the playoff caliber team that emerged this season. Denver finished with a 54-28 record and the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed. Now that the Wizards have the ninth pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, it will be up to the new President to choose an impactful player to add to the roster. Connelly has proven that he has the ability to draft the right talent. For example, he took All-Star center Nikola Jokic 41st overall in 2014. Jokic has emerged as a legitimate threat for the Nuggets.
No matter who ends up with the Wizards job, there will be a lot of work to do. The Wizards finished this past season with a 32-50 record and were nine spots out of the playoff picture. Washington will also move forward next year without All-Star guard John Wall who is out nearly 12-months with an Achilles injury. Then there is the question of Bradley Beal’s future. Beal is coming off a breakout year and there is a huge possibility that teams will court the Wizards for a trade. Especially if the team decides to start over and rebuild completely.
Connelly will likely expect a hefty salary. But if the Wizards want him, they will do what it takes to get him.