The Fan’s Zach Bye delves into the Nuggets offseason, ‘Game of Thrones’
May 22, 2019, 6:00 AM
The Denver Nuggets held its season’s end press conference on Tuesday with head coach Michael Malone and president of basketball operations Tim Connelly reflecting on a campaign of accomplishments but, ultimately, postseason disappointment.
With the arrow pointing toward the Nuggets offseason, 104.3 The Fan caught up with “Stokley and Zach” co-host Zach Bye — who also hosts the “Mile High Hoops Podcast” along with former NBA guard Earl Boykins — to pick his mind on Denver’s future.
And for good measure, we got Bye’s thoughts on the pop culture phenomenon that is “Game of Thrones.”
Needless to say, spoilers ahead.
Digital content producer Johnny Hart: How important was it for the Denver Nuggets to retain president of basketball operations Tim Connelly and why?
“Stokley and Zach” co-host Zach Bye: The importance level would a nine out of 10. Keeping the continuity of the organization has been one of the hallmarks as of late here in Denver, and it keeps that ball rolling. We heard (head coach) Michael Malone talk about how the Nuggets may have the best continuity between the owner, president and coach league-wide. And the fact that they’re in that conversation is a testament. So, to keep that thing going in the direction that it’s headed in, and how good of a direction that is, is awesome. And I think we’re going to continue to see the type of fruits of that continuity over the next two to three years as we’ve seen over the last two to three years.
JH: Connelly said in his season’s end press conference that free agents who preach going to a winner and don’t talk to the Nuggets are “disingenuous.” Do you agree, and do you think Denver’s changed its perception in terms of being a destination for free agents?
ZB: For the first part of that statement, I not only agree (but) I don’t know how you could disagree. The Nuggets were one of the last eight teams in the sport playing basketball. They have a young core that is clearly, and unanimously, ascending. (They have) the youngest core in the NBA, where your three best players are all under the age of 25. They’re the only team in the league that has playoff standing that can also say that. So, if you’re a free agent and you do say you’re about winning and you don’t talk to the Nuggets, it wouldn’t make sense. Those two things can’t be true at the same time. So, I do believe that you would be being disingenuous. I absolutely co-sign that.
In terms of the second part of that question, whether the Nuggets have changed the narrative, that remains to be seen. Because even though they have taken great strides on the court, it still remains to be seen whether this is a basketball destination. So, only time is going to tell us the answer to that second question.
JH: How important has Paul Millsap been to this current iteration of the Denver Nuggets, and if the organization doesn’t pick up his contract option, who could replace him via free agency?
ZB: I love what Paul Millsap has brought to the table these last two years. I think the easy way to analyze Paul is to look at the price point of his contract and put that lens over his points per game or his rebounds per game. I don’t think you can measure Paul Millsap’s value like that. He’s been a veteran leader, and defensively he’s been a quarterback on that end of the floor. And he’s sort of a calming presence. We’ve got to remember, in terms of the guys firmly in the playing group, there was basically no playoff experience. Paul Millsap was knocking on the door of 100 playoff games coming into this postseason. So his value can’t be measured on a stat sheet. And I think he’s a big reason why the Nuggets have taken the strides in the last two years that they have.
If the team doesn’t pick up the option, which I don’t believe they’re going to, I don’t know exactly, right now, who would be that veteran that could provide the same sort of accountability and veteran presence that Millsap has. But I will tell you Jimmy Butler comes to mind … and I don’t really know who else right now, honestly.
JH: Both Connelly and Malone called Nikola Jokic a superstar. Does he truly live up to that title at this point?
ZB: I think Nikola Jokic is a star that’s a budding superstar. But I’m not willing to say he’s a superstar right now because I think that you have to play in more than two playoff series to earn that title. And the key word there is earn it. There’s only one way to do it, and you have to go out there with your actions and prove it. And I just don’t think one playoff series, although he played like a superstar in these playoffs … I want to see him do it again to earn that status. We’ve got to remember, we’re only talking about a one-time all-star here. And he has been great, and I’ll be first to admit (he) has played like a superstar in stretches. But to firmly own the title of superstar, I want to see you do it all over again.
JH: How would you have ended the series “Game of Thrones?” Who would have been on the Iron Throne at the end of season eight?
ZB: I’ll say this. If I was in charge of the final season of “Game of Thrones,” there would have never been an emphasis on the White Walkers, which I thought was an incredibly shallow storyline in a series that had nothing but depth. And I thought that Cersei, the ending of that incredible character was so nearsighted and uninspired. And, at the same time, I would have told Bran’s story more instead of putting his ascension to the throne in a microwave. I hated the way that they did it.
