Nearly one week ago, we covered how the Memphis Grizzlies former head coach Taylor Jenkins would be an ideal replacement for Chauncey Billups next season to help the Portland Trail Blazers get over the playoff hump. But yet another head coach of a Western Conference playoff team has been surprisingly let go right before the playoffs even start.
ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the Denver Nuggets have fired head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth. Denver will head into the playoffs with lead assistant David Adelman as the interim head coach.
Michael Malone would be another upgrade over Chauncey Billups
The news itself isn't shocking, as the Nuggets have underperformed relative to their extremely high standards as a team that has the best player in the world and won a championship in 2023. But the timing of it is even stranger than the Grizzlies' decision to part with Jenkins. Charania notes that it's tied with Hubie Brown's firing in 1981 for the latest coaching change in NBA history.
The harsh reality of being a head coach in the NBA is that it is often associated with unfair expectations. Ever since the Nuggets won in 2023, Booth has failed to keep Denver's depth intact, which is what made them so dangerous. Role players like Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope -- who were integral to that championship run, providing defense and floor spacing for Jokic -- weren't prioritized enough.
It's not like Denver was doing horribly, either. They are currently fourth in the Western Conference at 47-32. Nonetheless, the Nuggets' loss will be another team's gain as Malone will likely be a coveted head coaching candidate around the league next season.
The Portland Trail Blazers should be one of those teams that target him. Malone has already proven that he has what it takes to win and would be a valuable addition to the Blazers as he provides them with much more experience than Billups.
There's a case to be made to keep Billups, given the season he's put together in Portland and their play the past few months. But each shocking head coaching firing continues to weaken that case, and we haven't even gotten into the offseason yet.
There are going to be a lot of intriguing coaching options available that provide more experience and better in-game adjustments than Billups has to offer. Whether it's Jenkins, Malone, or someone else entirely, the Blazers would be wise to keep their options open. They need a more proven coach rather than just hoping that the formula they currently have in place is good enough.
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