Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Nuggets Announce Major Change Days Before NBA Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 2:44 PM ET

The Denver Nuggets have made a massive personnel change just days before the 2025 NBA Draft's Wednesday tip-off.

Denver owner Josh Kroenke controversially fired 10-year head coach Michael Malone and championship-winning general manager Calvin Booth right before this spring's playoffs, promoting Ben Tenzer as his interim team president and David Adelman as his interim head coach.

The Nuggets entered the playoffs saddled with a shallow roster beyond an impressive starting five. Three-time MVP center Nikola Jokic, oft-hurt point guard Jamal Murray, two-way standout power forward Aaron Gordon, streaky sharpshooting small forward Michael Porter Jr., and Christian Braun formed a formidable core.

But beyond that group, Denver was compelled to lean on sixth man point guard Russell Westbrook and the spotty contributions of Zeke Nnaji, forward Peyton Watson and shooting guard Julian Strawther.

Westbrook has declined his player option and will hit free agency, while pricey mid-level exception signing Dario Saric has picked up his $5.4 million player option for 2025-26. Saric was an expensive miss of a signing for booth, as he quickly fell out of Malone's rotation did not suit up for a single second for Adelman in the playoffs.

The Nuggets pushed the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in a hard-fought second round series loss, but major injuries to Porter and later Gordon eventually doomed Denver. Adelman was eventually locked in to a long-term deal and had his interim tag taken off.

Per ESPN's Shams Charania, Denver has at last made Tenzer its non-interim executive vice president of basketball operations, while bringing in former Minnesota Timberwolves front office executive Jon Wallace to serve as Denver's executive vice president of player personnel.

After the late season firings of coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth, the Nuggets hired David Adelman – and now will name Tenzer and Wallace as the heads of their newly restructured basketball leadership group. https://t.co/lyOBp8CBXJ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2025

Now, Denver will head into the draft Wednesday armed with a reconfigured front office.

As of this writing, the Nuggets do not have their own pick in this year's draft — but things could change, and Denver is in need of young, cost-controlled talent to replenish its bench.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: