Connelly talks Porter Jr., NBA title expectations

Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly had no hesitation about the message he and head coach Michael Malone will impart on the team once training camp opens next week.

“I’ve never won a championship, so I don’t know how to speak on this with any real authority, but I think now it’s, ‘Why not us?’ ” Connelly said Tuesday, while speaking on 104.3 The Fan. “You look around, why can’t we win at the highest level? Why can’t we advance to the Finals? Why can’t we be an elite Western Conference team? I know we have the coaching staff, I think we have the talent.”

The Golden State dynasty is hardly as imposing without Kevin Durant, and the entire Western Conference is up for grabs. While the Clippers improved substantially, adding Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, they can’t avoid a learning curve.

Connelly’s point is that the Nuggets, who finished with the best home record in the NBA last season, have a chance to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy. So why not embrace it?

“We don’t want to put unfair expectations, ‘It’s the Finals or bust, it’s championship or bust,’ but we don’t want to be a defeatist team, either,” Connelly said. “I think you look around, there’s a handful of teams that have a real chance to lift the trophy, and I think for the first time ever, in my professional career, I can say with a straight face that we’re one of those teams.”

Porter Jr. healthy?

All eyes will be on Nuggets redshirt rookie Michael Porter Jr. next week when training camp opens in Colorado Springs. According to Connelly, Porter has been “full bore” in scrimmages and won’t have a minutes restriction heading into the season.

“I think where he is physically is about as good as we could’ve ever imagined on draft night,” he said.

Bol Bol making progress:

Denver’s second-round pick is steadily progressing after a foot injury limited him to just nine games at Oregon last season.

“We’re going to slow-play his development,” Connelly said. “He’ll soon be cleared for contact, he’s been working out non-stop at our gym. A month or so from now, I think he’ll be back on the court playing 5-on-5. He’s a guy that’s never really worked on his body. The skill level jumps off the video screen, but his body’s never been an emphasis.”

Bol signed a two-way contract earlier this month, meaning he’ll split his rookie season between the Nuggets and the G League.

Pingpong?

Connelly and his wife, Negah, will be hosting a pingpong tournament Wednesday at the Expo Event Center from 6:30-10:30 p.m. to benefit LuBird’s Light. Nuggets players Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Paul Millsap are all expected to attend the fundraiser as are a few Broncos players.