Nuggets coach justified to be upset at his front office

A year after letting Bruce Brown and Jeff Green walk as free agents, the Nuggets allowed another key piece of their 2023 championship puzzle, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, to depart this offseason.

The loss of the three integral players may not have sat well with head coach Michael Malone, who is reportedly not "seeing eye-to-eye" with the Nuggets front office.

"There are rumblings," ESPN's Zach Lowe said on "The Lowe Post" podcast. "Rumblings. That the coaching staff and front office, or at least the head coach and the front office, aren't exactly seeing eye to eye in Denver, to a degree even unusual for the NBA."

The Nuggets did not sign external replacements to fill the void left by Brown, Green and KCP and instead seem to be planning to rely on their drafted players such as Christian Braun, Peyton Watson and Zeke Nnaji.

While the Nuggets did sign Russell Westbrook this offseason, but there are questions regarding whether he will be a long-term fit with the franchise.

Shortly before the departure of KCP, Nuggets GM Calvin Booth spoke about the financial hurdles brought about by the new CBA and why it's a challenge to keep the 2023 roster intact.

"I think we're prepared to like, plug-and-play, so to speak (if we lose KCP)," Booth told Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan. "I think we look at some of the teams that have been good in the past. They have to find a way to replace fourth and fifth starters, and sixth men off the bench and still keep rolling."

It's rather unfortunate the Nuggets have become the latest small-market team to allow finances to get in the way of a potential dynasty. One wonders if Malone's patience will wear thin in the coming years.

Malone is signed with the Nuggets through the 2026-27 season.