Former Phoenix Suns assistant general manager David Griffin has turned down the Denver Nuggets’ head GM position, reports ESPN’s Ric Bucher, in part because Denver’s salary offer was not commensurate with what other new GMs have received this offseason. As our own Ben Golliver pointed out earlier in this StoryStream, FanHouse’s Chris Tomasson reported last night that negotiations between the Nuggets and Griffin had broken down, so that he ultimately rejected their offer is no surprise.
Now, Bucher says, the Nuggets have targeted Masai Ujiri, the Toronto Raptors’ director of global scouting, to be their next GM. “Ujiri spent four years as the Nuggets’ director of international scouting before joining the Raptors,” Bucher notes, though he does not offer an opinion on how his prior experience with the Nuggets will affect his decision to accept their GM position.
Whomever the Nuggets hire will face some immediate, pressing questions regarding the futures of Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith. Anthony may want out of Denver and can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, so it may behoove the Nuggets to deal him if he doesn’t agree to a contract extension. Additionally, Smith appears to have worn out his welcome in Denver, and no longer has the support of upper management. He may need to go as well.
You can follow the latest news on Anthony in this StoryStream and the latest news on Smith in this Storystream.