Former Nuggets GM Calvin Booth Details Circumstances Behind 2025 Dismissal
former-nuggets-gm-calvin-booth-details-2025-dismissal
Former Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth, appearing on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” for Yahoo Sports, recounted the chain of events that led to his ouster — along with coach Michael Malone — in April 2025 with three games remaining in the regular season.
Ownership’s View of Executives
Booth said the Kroenke ownership group has historically been reluctant to pay top dollar for front-office leaders. Citing predecessors such as Mark Warkentien, Tim Connelly and Masai Ujiri, he told host Kevin O’Connor that Denver “always reaches a point where it decides executives are replaceable,” even after successful seasons.
Relationship With Michael Malone
Widely reported friction between Booth and Malone was “one of several” factors, according to the former GM, but he described it as typical coach-executive tension. Booth noted that his preference for developing young players often clashed with Malone’s reliance on veteran lineups.
Roster Decisions and Cap Limits
Booth defended the club’s choice to let key role players leave in free agency — including Bruce Brown, Jeff Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — arguing that retaining them would have blocked minutes for prospects Christian Braun and Peyton Watson. He added that ownership’s resistance to deep luxury-tax spending forced the front office to hunt for inexpensive talent through the draft and undrafted free agency.
Early Personnel Successes
After taking over basketball operations in 2022, Booth traded for Caldwell-Pope, signed Brown, and drafted Braun and Watson outside the top 20. Those moves helped Denver capture its first NBA championship in 2023. Subsequent drafts produced Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett, Hunter Tyson, Collin Gillespie, DaRon Holmes and Spencer Jones, several of whom have since earned NBA rotation roles.
Expectations and Future Plans
Booth said he felt a growing perception in Denver that he needed a “perfect” record on transactions. Despite believing his résumé compares favorably to most first-time general managers, he acknowledged that no front-office job is guaranteed and expressed interest in another opportunity “under the right circumstances.”
Comments on Current Nuggets Leadership
Booth praised interim decision-makers Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace, noting that several moves they executed had been discussed before his departure, including a potential trade that would have sent Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson and an earlier push for Jonas Valančiūnas.
Malone’s Coaching Future
Regarding Michael Malone, Booth said the championship-winning coach enjoys television work but “would jump at” another NBA bench job.
The interview offers the most detailed public explanation to date of why Denver made sweeping leadership changes on the eve of the 2025 playoffs.
Source: Hoops Rumors
