SH Blog: Nuggets fire Shaw, but fault remains mixed; Javale McGee set to clear waivers

It certainly wasn’t shocking to see the Denver Nuggets fire Brian Shaw. After all, they’ve lost 12 of 13 games and we’re just days removed from a chant of “1, 2, 3… six weeks!” during another defeat, leading to serious questions about their effort.

The 57-win Nuggets of two years ago under George Karl have rapidly transitioned to a laughing stock under Shaw, falling to 36-46 a year ago and now poised to finish much worse this year (currently at 20-39).

Shaw, 48, is just two years removed from a strong stint in Indiana that helped label him as one of the game’s top assistant coaches. But his marriage to Denver looked ill-fated from the start, and it now concludes with an overall record of just 56-85.

After unexpectedly losing in the first round of the 2012-13 playoffs as a No. 3 seed, the Nuggets let Karl go that offseason — in large part because they said they wanted better defensive play and to slow down the tempo. Enter Shaw, who had serious chops as a halfcourt guru after helping develop the Pacers into an Eastern Conference contender.

The Nuggets’ current roster, however, was built for up-tempo basketball — and they made very few moves of significance to change it and adapt to Shaw’s preferred style. Point guard Ty Lawson and power forward Kenneth Faried have the team’s largest contracts, yet both are much more effective in high-octane offenses rather than deliberate, slow-paced schemes.

For the short-term, assistant coach Melvin Hunt will become Denver’s interim head coach for the remainder of the season. But over the long-term, the Nuggets need to decide on an identity and adopt a cohesive strategy throughout the organization.

Denver hasn’t started to consider long-term candidates for coaching job. Organization needs to decide direction and then look at best fits.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) March 3, 2015

If they like the foundation pieces in place such as Lawson and Faried, perhaps Mike D’Antoni and his notoriously fast-paced offense is a fit. Indeed, early reports have pegged D’Antoni as interested.

But if the Nuggets are still striving for a slower, defensive-oriented identity, both the coach and the roster composition need to reflect it as they move forward.

There was no salvaging Shaw, of course. With the Nuggets having lost 19 of 21 games, including a franchise-record 10 straight at home, it was clear he had lost control over much of his locker room.

But veteran big man David West, who played under Shaw at Indiana, had a valid point when commenting earlier today on Shaw’s dismissal and the state of Denver’s roster. 

David West on Brian Shaw being fired: “That’s bullshit. No grownups on the roster. You can’t win without grownups.”

— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) March 3, 2015

In other words, to prevent the same spiral from happening again, the Nuggets — led by president Josh Kroenke and general manager Tim Connelly — have work to do to ensure the roster composition is in relative balance with the new coach and overall organizational strategy.

Otherwise, chaos likely ensues.

MCGEE TO CLEAR WAIVERS WEDNESDAY, BECOME ELIGIBLE TO SIGN WITH ANY TEAM

JaVale McGee will clear waivers on Wednesday, giving him the freedom to sign with any team in the league while still collecting his roughly $12 million/year salary. And since Philadelphia bought him out prior to March 1, McGee will be eligible for use on playoff rosters.

Because of that, the agile seven-footer has no shortage of suitors.

ESPN‘s Marc Stein reported today that both the Mavs and Heat have interest in McGee, but noted that the list of interest teams stretches “well beyond” just those two. To that end, Stein’s colleague Chris Broussard added Golden State to the list.

Stein says the sense is that McGee “won’t rush” his choice of teams, presumably because of all the options. Earlier this week, USA Today‘s Sam Amick also referenced the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets as potential landing spots.

McGee is averaging just 4.6 points and 2.7 rebounds in only 11 minutes per game this season, and he’s become known more for his antics than his production on many nights. But McGee averaged strong numbers early in his career — peaking at 11.9 points, 8.8 blocks and 2.5 rebounds in 27 minutes/game as a key big man for Washington in 2011-12.

Even with the declining numbers since, McGee remains just 27 years old and is still remarkably athletic for his position, especially compared to most backups. And with the Sixers buying McGee out at his full salary, that means contenders can gamble on McGee for a reserve role at likely the league minimum, all while hoping the culture of a winning locker room helps erode some of his poor habits.

Another key factor to consider is that with the calendar now at March, McGee is one of the last available options for a contender to theoretically bolster its roster. There could still be a few viable players from China becoming eligible for NBA additions, but by and large, the two most significant deadlines — trade and buyout — have now passed.

That should lift the sense of urgency among McGee’s suitors and leave him with a boatload of options.

OTHER NEWS FROM AROUND THE NBA

Alex Len, Hassan Whiteside and Markieff Morris were each fined by the NBA for their roles in Monday night’s repeated scuffles between the Heat and Suns.

But unlike James Harden, who will miss Houston’s game Tuesday night in Atlanta after kicking LeBron James, none of these three were suspended.

From the NBA’s release:

Phoenix Suns center Alex Len has been fined $20,000 for initiating an altercation with Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside and attempting to take him to the floor. Whiteside has been fined $15,000 for escalating the incident by wrestling Len to the floor. Additionally, Suns forward Markieff Morris has been fined $15,000 for his Flagrant 2 for making excessive contact above the shoulders with Heat guard Goran Dragic. The penalties were announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The lesson? The standard appears to be different when the receiving player isn’t LeBron James.

 

The Kings hired former center Vlade Divac as vice president of basketball and franchise operations, the team announced Tuesday.

Divac’s responsibilities for Sacramento will include advising the team’s front office and coaching staff, with particular emphasis on European players. The team’s press release also says Divac will assist the organization’s global branding efforts by augmenting fan outreach initiatives and maintaining oversight of player development programs.

“With an unparalleled philanthropic track record that spans the globe, Vlade Divac is the epitome of our NBA 3.0 philosophy,” said Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé. “He has a unique perspective and global stature that will only further elevate our organization around the world.”

Divac spent six years with the Kings, where he was a big part of the franchise’s best-ever teams. Sacramento has since retired his No. 21 jersey.

“It’s a great honor returning to the city that has provided a lifetime of unforgettable experiences,” said Divac in the release. “Sacramento and the Kings organization were always in my thoughts and I often dreamed of having a role in helping our amazing fans realize the ultimate NBA prize. I’m thankful to Vivek for the opportunity and look forward to creating more special memories here.”

After retiring in 2005, Divac has largely spent his time working with European teams and leagues and assisting their potential NBA players.

Ben DuBose is a veteran sports reporter who has followed the Houston Rockets and the NBA since Hakeem Olajuwon was Akeem Olajuwon. He writes for both SheridanHoops and ClutchFans, an independent Rockets blog. You can follow him on Twitter.