Congratulations, Mark Warkentien...

by Andrew Feinstein on May 3, 2009 8:24 AM MDT

The Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien - a former Stiff List regular - has been named as the NBA's Executive of the Year. It's well deserved but should be shared with the other two members of the Nuggets GM Troika, Bret Bearup and Rex Chapman. (I guess the downside of having multiple executives is only one can receive this award.)

The Nuggets are winning this award because the Marcus Camby trade proved to be fortuitous (even though I still maintain they could have fleeced someone for a first round pick for Camby), J.R. Smith was re-signed to a reasonable contract, the league minimum signings of Dahntay Jones and Chris "Birdman" Andersen and the trade for Renaldo Balkman were absolute steals and, of course, the home run of home runs: trading Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups, which wouldn't have been possible with Camby's contract on the books.

The Nuggets organization also deserves credit for the trade that wasn't made to move Carmelo Anthony, even though ESPN.com reported that Nuggets head coach George Karl allegedly wanted Melo traded.

Readers of this blog know that I've been very tough on Warkentien, Bearup and Chapman in the past. Up and until this season, Denver Stiffs felt that Warkentien in particular - having been the assistant GM in Portland during the "Jailblazers" era - was creating Jailblazers 2.0 in Denver with an expensive team chock full of big egos and bad character. (And don't forget the Zach Randolph rumors that, had that deal come to fruition, would have set this franchise back five to ten years).

Maybe Wark pays attention to this blog and the fans (very,very doubtful) or maybe it was just a matter of dollars and sense and wins and losses (much more likely), but within just two seasons he's helped to transform the Nuggets from an expensive, selfish, playoff loser that the fans couldn't root for into an inexpensive, blue collar and playoff winner that has become the darling of Denver professional sports.

Denver Stiffs will criticize when it's warranted and congratulate when it's earned. And Mark Warkentien, Bret Bearup and Rex Chapman deserve our congratulations. Now if only they would re-sign the Birdman...

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I guess you do have to give credit where it's due. I have never thought Warkentien was really that bad. He has made some really good moves and thanks to those moves we are now in a position to win. You can't even knock that. If he just could have pulled off a David Lee trade and got Kleiza off our hands, that would have really been something.

by Goldennugget on May 3, 2009 5:22 PM MDT reply actions

Warkentien scared me when he aquired AI and expected George Karl to turn him and Melo into Payton and Kemp:

"This is not a block George hasn't been around," Warkentien said in a news conference. "He's done laps around this block.".

I could see how he could win this award based on the Chauncey trade. I don't think anyone anticipated this level of success. I think Karl wanted another chance to actually coach, but told the brass that he can't do it with Iverson. So Warkentien goes on E-Harmony and finds his match: Someone who'll tank a season for and expiring contract, Joe Dumars.

And Andrew, I appreciate your humility, but whether you take credit or not, FIREGEORGEKARL.COM got national attention. And it got George Karl's attention. And it got his "lawyer's" attention. So I'm pretty sure the Nuggets' brass realized the fans' disapproval and realized that things needed to be tightened up. That's why I didn't say you helped "turn this franchise around". The Nuggets were already headed in the right direction. They're just moving more efficiently these days. Major or Minor, you played a role.

by E on May 3, 2009 11:07 PM MDT reply actions

all from the guy who started, "Fire George Karl dot com" and makes snarky comments about peoples clothes in the back of US Magazine.

Nice...

by Anonymous on May 5, 2009 12:42 PM MDT reply actions

Hey Anonymous asshole -

First, have the balls to put at least a fake name on here.

Second, Andrew whipped this org in shape. Give him some credit!

by J Stevens on May 5, 2009 7:28 PM MDT reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

STIFF LIST (as of 4/26 by Andrew Feinstein)

1. METTA WORLD PEACE

Metta resorted back to Ron Ron last Sunday by clubbing James Hardenwith an "inadvertent celebratory elbow", landing him a 7-game suspension. Apparently, changing his name didn't prevent NBA commissioner David Stern from overlooking Metta's past behavior problems.

2. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

The 'Cats are on the verge of securing the worst winning percentage in NBA history. Given that the guy who runs the team - Michael Jordan - had previously drafted Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison, should this really be a shock?

3. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The team that was supposedly built to overcome the lockout-shortened season managed to lose 7 of its last 14 games, ceding the Western Conference's 1-seed to the Spurs in the process. Their reward might be a first round matchup with defending champion Dallas.

4. BILLY HUNTER AND DEREK FISHER

With report after report coming out about NBPA union head Hunter's shady, nepotistic dealings and questions arising about Fisher's own role in dealing with NBA owners behind Hunter's back during the lockout, this off-the-court scandal could prove to be more exciting than the playoffs themselves!

5. STEVE NASH AND THE PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns are on this list for squandering the last few great seasons from Nash. Nash is on this list for his stupidly stubborn loyalty to a franchise as awful as the Suns.