DENVER -- New Denver Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly says re-signing free agent shooting guard Andre Igoudala is his No. 1 priority. Connelly was formally introduced on Thursday by team president Josh Kroenke. "The last guy we talked to before coming in for this press conference was Andre," Connelly told reporters. "Hes such a pro that hes out there (on the court) working out." The Nuggets top defender, Igoudala recently opted out of the final year of his contract after averaging 13 points a game last season. His situation is just one of several Connelly will have to deal with as he tries to help the Nuggets become a genuine playoff contender. The 36-year-old Connelly comes to the Nuggets from New Orleans, where he served as assistant general manager under Dell Demps. He replaces NBA Executive of the Year Masai Ujiri, who took the GM job with the Toronto Raptors last week. Considered a rising front-office talent, Connelly inherits a team that won a franchise-most 57 games during the regular season only to bow out in the first round of the playoffs again, this time to Golden State. Besides the potential loss of Igoudala, the Nuggets will be without Danilo Gallinari for the start of next season as the Italian forward recovers from an ACL injury. And Connelly, with Kroenke, also will have to find a replacement for NBA Coach of the Year George Karl, who was let go on June 6 after the early payoff exit. The Nuggets interviewed former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins on Wednesday and have also interviewed Indiana Pacers assistant coach Brian Shaw, but have not set a specific deadline for hiring a coach. "I dont think we want to put a concrete timeline on anything," Connelly said. "Theres the potential to talk to additional candidates, and weve talked to two great candidates. The two guys weve interviewed are tremendous, and I look forward to going into Joshs office and seeing where we are in that process." Finding the right personality fit for the coaching job is most important to Connelly, who said he wont dictate a style or philosophy with the new coach. "I would never try to impose any strategic restraints on a coach," Connelly said. "Im looking for a good guy whos excited to have the job and build off where we are presently." Kroenke, who offered Connelly the job during a Saturday night dinner, was bullish about his new hire. "Im really excited to have Tim here, and its going to be a lot of fun moving forward," Kroenke said. "I hope Nuggets fans are as excited as I am. Ive known Tim the last several years, and weve stayed in loose contact. "It became a very easy decision to hire him and bring him here after a couple dominoes started to fall." One domino was assistant GM Pete DAlessandro leaving to become general manager for the Sacramento Kings late last week. "Pete and I discussed the position, and I think hes going to have a wonderful opportunity in Sacramento," Kroenke said. "Once that happened, I didnt waste any time and it was a quick decision for me. There was one person I wanted to bring in and immediately discuss the job with, and that was Tim." Kroenke said the prospect of re-signing Igoudala, the teams highest-paid player at more than $14 million, is very good. "I think 100 per cent," Kroenke said. "I had a good conversation with his agent last week. Andre is somebody we definitely want to bring back, and Andre is aware of our intentions to bring him back as well." Connelly thanked Ujiri as he said how happy he was about the new job. "I feel great about where the team is," Connelly said. "Theres a winning culture ingrained here, and its a heck of a team Im inheriting. 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After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. The 33rd Maui Invitational tips off Monday and will feature another field loaded with basketball powerhouses. The eight-team tournament will consist of schools that have combined for 14 NCAA championships, 40 Final Four appearances and 192 NCAA tournament appearances.This years field includes Oregon, Tennessee, Georgetown, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, UConn, North Carolina and host Chaminade.The winner at Maui has won the national championship four times, with UConn in 2010-11 being the most recent team to accomplish the feat. North Carolina has won the tournament three times.Oklahoma State (3-0) will put its undefeated record on the line against UConn at 9?p.m. ET on ESPN2 and WatchESPN.?It will be the Cowboys second trip to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational, with their last appearance coming in 2007.Oklahoma State has started strong this season, scoring more than 100 points in each of its first three games. Averaging 107 points per contest, the Cowboys are seconnd in the nation in scoring behind The Citadel, and first among major conference teams.dddddddddddd The only other time Oklahoma State has scored at least 100 points in three straight games was during the 1993-94 season.?The Cowboys averaged 66.5 points per game last season, but outscored that mark by putting up 68 in the first half against the New Orleans Privateers last week. Their scoring is up by 40.5 points so far, which is the biggest jump by any team in the country this season.?Oklahoma States new coach Brad Underwood had a combined record of 89-14 in his three seasons at Stephen F. Austin, which was the second-best win percentage (.864) by any team in the nation over that span.?The Cowboys have yet to make their way into the AP top 25, but a few wins in the Maui Invitational could propel them into the polls.?-- Josiah Turner cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '