ducks
09-08-2006, 09:58 AM
Nuggets name Warkentien VP in front office shift
September 7, 2006
DENVER (Ticker) - Mark Warkentien's offseason tryout apparently went well.
Warkentien was named vice president of basketball operations of the Denver Nuggets, who overhauled the entire department Thursday with two hirings, another promotion and two dismissals.
Out of the picture are assistant general managers Jeff Weltman and David Fredman. In are former player Rex Chapman as vice president of player personnel and long-time financial adviser Bret Bearup as advisor.
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In addition, Masai Ujiri was promoted to director of international scouting.
"We feel we have a well-balanced front office team in place to continue our pursuit of an NBA championship," Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke said in a statement. "Mark, Bret and Masai have proven themselves to be invaluable resources for the Nuggets, and Rex will bring a wealth of NBA experience that will perfectly complement the group."
After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year, the Nuggets fired general manager Kiki Vandeweghe in May. Warkentien, the director of player personnel at the time, was given control of the team's draft process and served as negotiator on basketball matters.
In 2005, Warkentien served in a similar role for the Cleveland Cavaliers, moving from director of player personnel to interim GM until Danny Ferry was hired. However, he was not replaced this time around.
The Nuggets had a quiet draft, acquiring a future second-round pick. But Warkentien has been active in the offseason, making a couple of trades and spending plenty of Kroenke's money.
Star forward Carmelo Anthony was signed to a five-year, $73 million contract extension and free agent center Nene was retained with a six-year, $60 million deal. The Nuggets allowed guard Greg Buckner and forward-center Francisco Elson to leave free agency.
The Nuggets were rumored to be in the market for Philadelphia 76ers superstar guard Allen Iverson but were unable to swing a deal. However, Warkentien did acquire guard J.R. Smith from the Chicago Bulls for guard Howard Eisley and two 2007 second-round picks and forward Joe Smith from the Milwaukee Bucks for forward Ruben Patterson.
A long-time lieutenant to Jerry Tarkanian at Nevada-Las Vegas, Warkentien made the jump to the NBA in 1991 and spent four years as a scout with Seattle.
He spent the next 10 years in Portland as a scout, assistant GM and director of player personnel. The 2003-04 season with the Trail Blazers marked the first time in his career that he was associated with a team that failed to make the playoffs.
Chapman is on board after a year in the front office of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played 12 seasons in the NBA and served as a scout and director of basketball operations for the Phoenix Suns.
Bearup played at the University of Kentucky and later went on to become the president of ProTrust Capital, where his investment clients included - among others - Tim Duncan, Paul Pierce and Elton Brand. He also has strong connections to the college game.
Ujiri joined the Nuggets is 2003 as a scout after serving one season as an international scout for the Orlando Magic.
Weltman and Fredman assisted Warkentien this summer but were part of Vandeweghe's regime.
September 7, 2006
DENVER (Ticker) - Mark Warkentien's offseason tryout apparently went well.
Warkentien was named vice president of basketball operations of the Denver Nuggets, who overhauled the entire department Thursday with two hirings, another promotion and two dismissals.
Out of the picture are assistant general managers Jeff Weltman and David Fredman. In are former player Rex Chapman as vice president of player personnel and long-time financial adviser Bret Bearup as advisor.
ADVERTISEMENT
In addition, Masai Ujiri was promoted to director of international scouting.
"We feel we have a well-balanced front office team in place to continue our pursuit of an NBA championship," Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke said in a statement. "Mark, Bret and Masai have proven themselves to be invaluable resources for the Nuggets, and Rex will bring a wealth of NBA experience that will perfectly complement the group."
After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year, the Nuggets fired general manager Kiki Vandeweghe in May. Warkentien, the director of player personnel at the time, was given control of the team's draft process and served as negotiator on basketball matters.
In 2005, Warkentien served in a similar role for the Cleveland Cavaliers, moving from director of player personnel to interim GM until Danny Ferry was hired. However, he was not replaced this time around.
The Nuggets had a quiet draft, acquiring a future second-round pick. But Warkentien has been active in the offseason, making a couple of trades and spending plenty of Kroenke's money.
Star forward Carmelo Anthony was signed to a five-year, $73 million contract extension and free agent center Nene was retained with a six-year, $60 million deal. The Nuggets allowed guard Greg Buckner and forward-center Francisco Elson to leave free agency.
The Nuggets were rumored to be in the market for Philadelphia 76ers superstar guard Allen Iverson but were unable to swing a deal. However, Warkentien did acquire guard J.R. Smith from the Chicago Bulls for guard Howard Eisley and two 2007 second-round picks and forward Joe Smith from the Milwaukee Bucks for forward Ruben Patterson.
A long-time lieutenant to Jerry Tarkanian at Nevada-Las Vegas, Warkentien made the jump to the NBA in 1991 and spent four years as a scout with Seattle.
He spent the next 10 years in Portland as a scout, assistant GM and director of player personnel. The 2003-04 season with the Trail Blazers marked the first time in his career that he was associated with a team that failed to make the playoffs.
Chapman is on board after a year in the front office of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played 12 seasons in the NBA and served as a scout and director of basketball operations for the Phoenix Suns.
Bearup played at the University of Kentucky and later went on to become the president of ProTrust Capital, where his investment clients included - among others - Tim Duncan, Paul Pierce and Elton Brand. He also has strong connections to the college game.
Ujiri joined the Nuggets is 2003 as a scout after serving one season as an international scout for the Orlando Magic.
Weltman and Fredman assisted Warkentien this summer but were part of Vandeweghe's regime.