Sources: Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth unlikely to meet with Kings
A third candidate in the Kings’ search for a new general manager is likely to withdraw his name from consideration.
Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth is unlikely to move forward with the Kings in their hiring process, league sources told The Sacramento Bee. Booth would be the third candidate to drop out of Sacramento’s search process in recent days, joining Miami Heat assistant general manager Adam Simon and New Orleans Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon.
Just three names remain on the list of candidates the Kings have requested permission to interview as they seek to replace Vlade Divac, who stepped down in August after five losing seasons. They are Minnesota Timberwolves executive vice president Sachin Gupta; Houston Rockets assistant GM Monte McNair; and former Atlanta Hawks GM Wes Wilcox. Interviews are expected to begin next week.
Booth, 44, is in his third season with the Nuggets, who trail the Los Angeles Clippers 3-2 in the Western Conference semifinals. He served as assistant general manager until July, when he was promoted to general manager. Booth is said to have played an integral role in scouting and drafting current Nuggets such as Monte Morris, Michael Porter Jr., Bol Bol and Vlatko Cancar. Booth previously spent four seasons in Minnesota’s front office as a scout and player personnel director.
“Calvin is one of the brightest basketball minds in our league,” Nuggets president Tim Connelly said in a news release when Booth was promoted. “We are very fortunate to have him as part of our organization and are extremely excited for his new role.”
Simon, 46, has spent 25 years with the Heat, who defeated the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. This is Simon’s first season as vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager under GM Andy Elisburg and team president Pat Riley.
Simon began his career with the Heat as an intern in the video room under current Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and has held numerous titles in player personnel and scouting. Simon played a key role in drafting Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and KZ Okpala, and acquiring undrafted players such as Derrick Jones Jr., Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn.
Langdon, 44, just completed his first season as general manager in New Orleans, where he works under team president David Griffin. Langdon previously served as assistant general manager of the Brooklyn Nets and was named the 2018-19 NBA G League Basketball Executive of the Year for his work with the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League affiliate. Prior to his work with the Nets, Langdon worked with Griffin in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ front office.
