It would make complete sense for the Memphis Grizzlies to hire former Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe as their next general manager for one simple reason: He can fix the Grizzlies the same way he fixed the Nuggets.
Vandeweghe is among several candidates expected to interview for the job, which will be open July 1 after Jerry West retires. Other candidates include former Orlando GM John Gabriel, Boston GM Chris Wallace and Phoenix vice president of basketball operations David Griffin. Vandeweghe declined comment Friday on whether he has been contacted by the Grizzlies or will interview.
“I’ve always been a great fan of Jerry West. (The Grizzlies) have a great owner and are a great franchise,” Vandeweghe said Friday via a phone interview.
The Nuggets weren’t a great franchise when Vandeweghe was hired in the summer of 2001. In fact, Denver was one of the laughingstocks of the NBA. But through Vandeweghe’s creativity, ability to take risks and long NBA contacts – combined with owner Stan Kroenke’s commitment to spend money – turned the Nuggets into a winner. Under Vandeweghe, the Nuggets ended an eight-year playoff hiatus in 2004 and became one of the NBA’s most popular teams.
Vandeweghe saved the Nuggets more than $100 million in contracts and created major salary cap room by trading Nick Van Exel, Avery Johnson, Tariq Abdul-Wahad and Raef LaFrentz in exchange for guard Tim Hardaway, Donnell Harvey and Juwan Howard and two first-round picks in 2002. Vandeweghe also traded forward Antonio McDyess to New York in 2002 for center Marcus Camby and a first-round draft pick, which was used to get starting power forward Nene.
Before Vandeweghe, free agents had no interest in coming to Denver because it was too cold and only 12 percent African-American. But Vandeweghe made Denver cool by convincing point guard Andre Miller, 2004 all-star forward Kenyon Martin and guard Earl Boykins to sign, as well as re-signing Camby.
Vandeweghe could make unheralded Memphis a place to be, too. The Grizzlies are expected to have nearly $8 million to spend in free agency this summer. Would his likability by players cause Detroit’s Chauncey Billups, Charlotte’s Gerald Wallace, Milwaukee’s Boykins and Mo Williams, Sacramento’s Mike Bibby and Seattle’s Rashard Lewis to at least consider Memphis?
The Grizzlies have a good chance of landing Ohio State’s Greg Oden or Texas’ Kevin Durant in the draft. Vandeweghe drafted Nuggets all-star forward Carmelo Anthony with the third pick in 2003 and creatively marketed him in a hot-selling powder blue jersey.
Sure, Vandeweghe lost out on guard Gilbert Arenas, drafted bust Nikoloz Tskitishvili and got criticized for not being tough on Anthony at times. But no GM is perfect. Even West signed Brian Cardinal to a seven-year, $45 million deal, and Pistons president Joe Dumars drafted Darko Milicic over Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Considering what Vandeweghe learned during his five-year stint in Denver, expect him to be better the second time around. If at the minimum he can do for the Grizzlies what he did for the Nuggets, Memphis will go to a level the franchise has never seen before.
Smith, Young to rise?
One NBA executive said Colorado State junior forward Jason Smith’s and Southern Cal swingman Nick Young’s stock will rise when they are able to display their skills at predraft workouts in June. The executive also said Smith will not slide out of the first round.
Footnotes
USA Basketball is expected to have a minicamp from July 20-22 in Las Vegas in preparation for this summer’s FIBA Americas Championship that will conclude with an intrasquad scrimmage at the Thomas & Mack Center. … Memphis free-agent point guard Chucky Atkins told the Memphis Commercial Appeal that the Nuggets could be among the teams interested in him during free agency. … Nuggets guards Anthony Carter and Von Wafer have team options that must be decided on by Sept. 15. Such a move allows the Nuggets the option to use either in a potential offseason trade like they did last year with guard Howard Eisley when they sent him and two second-round picks to Chicago for guard J.R. Smith. … Pistons guard Billups will host the Chauncey Billups Basketball School for boys and girls ages 8-14 at Boulder High School from June 25-29. For information, call Tom Kummer at 720-839-6239.
Hill Country a must stop
Spurs general manager R.C. Buford’s top five things to do in San Antonio during the playoff series with the Nuggets.
Visit the Hill Country
Go to the Riverwalk
Experience Fiesta San Antonio
Go to the Alamo
Cheer for the Spurs
AWARD NOMINEES
THE BEST OF THE REGULAR SEASON
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
1. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
2. Steve Nash, Phoenix
3. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
4. Gilbert Arenas, Washington
5. Chris Bosh, Toronto
Comment: After such a disappointing 2006 NBA Finals, Nowitzki led Dallas to the best regular-season record with an improved all-around game.
COACH OF THE YEAR
1. Avery Johnson, Dallas
2. Sam Mitchell, Toronto
3. Jeff Van Gundy, Houston
Comment: Numerous coaches to choose from, but Johnson made sure the Mavericks went forward after the poor Finals.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1. Brandon Roy, Port.
2. Rudy Gay, Memphis
3. Andrea Bargnani, Tor.
Comment: Roy has played like a veteran since he first walked on an NBA court and had zero competition for the award.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1. Marcus Camby, Den.
2. Tim Duncan, S.A.
3. Shawn Marion, Pho. Comment: Camby was the anchor in the lane for the Nuggets, who would have struggled mightily without him.
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR
1. Leandro Barbosa, Pho. 2. Kevin Martin, Sacra.
3. Jerry Stackhouse, Dal.Comment: With Barbosa and Nash, the Suns always ran at a Formula One pace that was hard to keep up with.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
1. Monta Ellis, Golden State
2. Tyson Chandler, New Orleans
3. Kevin Martin, Sacramento
Comment: Ellis went from a second-round pick with knee concerns in 2005 to one of the best young guards in the NBA.
ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM
G-Steve Nash, Phoenix
G-Kobe Bryant, Lakers
F-Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas F-LeBron James, Cleve.
C-Tim Duncan, S.A.
ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM
G-Gilbert Arenas, Wash.
G-Tracy McGrady, Hous.
F-Carmelo Anthony, Den.
F-Chris Bosh, Toronto C-Amare Stoudemire, Pho.
ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM
G-Allen Iverson, Denver G-Jason Kidd, New Jersey
F-Shawn Marion, Phoenix
F-Carlos Boozer, Utah
C-Marcus Camby, Denver
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-954-1098 or mspears@denverpost.com.
