This NBA season may be remembered as the year when nobody was immune to change. From the stunning trade of Luka Dončić to the abrupt dismissal of the Grizzlies’ head coach Taylor Jenkins just before the playoffs, the league saw upheaval at every level. But perhaps no move was more surprising than the Denver Nuggets parting ways with head coach Michael Malone. What has not been as thoroughly covered has been the dismissal of general manager Calvin Booth.
While the latter’s name does not carry the same weight among fans as Malone’s, his dismissal is just as significant. In his short time as GM, Booth demonstrated the potential to become one of the league’s elite decision-makers, provided he can learn to temper his ego and grow from this professional setback. Let’s explore Booth’s tenure with the Nuggets.
Calvin Booth: A Potentially Great GM Held Back by His Arrogance
Booth began his Nuggets tenure in 2017, joining Tim Connelly’s regime as an assistant GM. He made a strong impression in the scouting department, playing a role in drafting players like Michael Porter Jr. and Monte Morris. His impact led to a promotion to GM in 2020, making him the second in command. In 2022, the then-president of basketball operations Tim Connelly, who built up this team around Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, left for the Timberwolves. This allowed Booth to become the main decision-maker, and he did not waste any time making some bold moves.
His eye for raw talent was already evident in the draft. He selected Christian Braun with the 21st pick and traded for Peyton Watson—two athletic prospects with high defensive ceilings. While both had clear offensive limitations, Booth correctly anticipated that playing alongside one of the league’s greatest playmakers would mitigate those shortcomings. Braun has been a revelation, as one of the few bright spots for Denver in an otherwise disappointing year.
Finding Key Veterans to Take the Next Step
In 2022, Booth made a significant trade, by moving away from longtime franchise staple Will Barton and reliable backup guard Monte Morris to acquire Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. KCP became an instrumental addition to Denver’s championship-winning starting five. Booth also brought in veterans Bruce Brown and Jeff Green, who played vital roles off the bench during their title run.
Faced with the challenge of improving an already strong roster with limited financial flexibility, Booth excelled at identifying undervalued talent and allowing this core to reach new heights. The result was the most successful season in Nuggets history. In the 2022-23 season, Denver went 53-19 (first in the West) and went on to win their first NBA championship. Booth’s acquisitions paid dividends in the playoffs, and his young draftees—particularly Braun—flashed tremendous potential.
The Actions That Led to the Dismissal of Booth
Malone and Booth were both let go amid reports of behind-the-scenes tensions and power struggles that may have ultimately derailed the team’s performance. While the extent of the conflict between Malone and Booth is still slowly being filtered out to the public, it is already pretty evident that Booth did himself no favors with his public image due to several questionable public statements. His controversial comments to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor following Bruce Brown’s departure, saying that:
“Some of these teams were trying to get Bruce, trying to make it worth it; it’s like, just be careful what you wish for. Peyton’s bigger. He’s longer. He’s more athletic. He guards better. He passes better. He doesn’t have the experience, and he’s not as good offensively yet, but we need defense more than we need offense on our team.”
These quotes came off as dismissive and ungrateful, especially considering Brown’s pivotal role in their title run. It also reflected a troubling overemphasis on raw athleticism over basketball IQ, particularly ironic given that Booth’s franchise centerpiece is a basketball genius with limited athleticism.
Overrating Peyton Watson Leading to Issues with Malone
This narrow focus was evident in Booth’s drafting philosophy. His prized project, Peyton Watson, is a physical marvel with jaw-dropping athleticism and defensive potential. However, Watson remains inconsistent, struggling with awareness on both ends of the court and offering little offensively. For a win-now team, this isn’t ideal.
Despite this, Booth continued to think of him as a cornerstone in this roster, leading to tensions with Malone who Watson’s playing time and role. GMs are typically more hands-off in regard to their coach’s rotations. As more information about the relationship between them comes to light, it becomes clear that the selfish behavior of both led to this situation becoming so toxic. Nevertheless, it’s confusing to see how frustrated Booth was due to Malone not relying on the players he drafted immediately.
Malone had been with this organization since 2017 and helped develop many key players. Notably, Malone has always followed the same approach: he holds young players accountable and expects them to sacrifice for the team if they want more minutes or a larger role. Critics may point out this as a flaw. However, during Malone’s time as the Nuggets’ head coach, he consistently developed the team’s prospects to their full potential. Ultimately, it’s clear they had different styles Malone was an old-school coach while Booth wanted to prioritize youth.
Losing Sight of What Made His 2022 Offseason So Great
Booth seemed to lose the magic touch when it came to finding those undervalued veterans, like in the 2022 offseason. Even the acquisition of Russell Westbrook, a vital addition, was reportedly not Booth’s intended signing, but rather Jokić’s wish. Jokić recognized the risk of entering the season with only unproven guards like Julian Strawther and Jalen Pickett backing up the injury-prone Jamal Murray. Strawther and Picket have talent, but they are not ready to reliably be part of a championship contender’s backcourt rotation. A championship core needs veteran players.
Without Westbrook, this season might have unraveled far more dramatically. His partnership with Jokić has proven to be one of the most unexpectedly effective dynamics in the league. Meanwhile, in some lineups, basic aspects like throwing an entry pass have been a struggle, especially with the young players. There were reports that Booth wanted Pickett to have more opportunities over Westbrook. These reports further highlight the disconnect between Booth and Malone.
Where Booth Goes From Here
Calvin Booth undeniably possesses the ability to identify talent and construct a championship-level roster. His early moves with Denver were bold, calculated, and largely successful. But to become a great executive, you have to check your ego and cooperate with other members of the organization. If Booth is willing to set aside his pride, he could become one of the NBA’s most respected GMs. However, if he’s not he likely won’t get another significant opportunity despite his success.
Photo credit: © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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