Ex-Wolves scout lands front-office position http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/15476891.htm Rex Chapman won't return to the Timberwolves, having been hired as the Denver Nuggets' vice president of player personnel, a departure that leaves more room for defined roles in Minnesota's front office. Chapman officially was a scout during his only season with the Wolves, but he wielded more influence than that title would suggest. Although his college and pro scouting duties prevented him from being at Target Center on a day-to-day basis in 2005-06, he seemed to have the ear of vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale whenever he was around. But with the addition of Rob Babcock and Fred Hoiberg to the Wolves' management team, Chapman might have had to share or possibly give up some of that influence. Now he will have a prominent role with Denver, a divisional rival of the Wolves. "I think it's a unique opportunity for him," Wolves general manager Jim Stack said Friday. "He did a good job for us, and we wish him well. We just felt like with Rob and Fred being more involved, that this may be an opportunity for him that may lead to whatever he wants to do with his life. Hopefully things work out for him there." Chapman, though, said he was looking forward to working with Babcock and Hoiberg. He added he's grateful for the way McHale and owner Glen Taylor treated him. He said the decision to leave was even tougher because of his longtime friendship with Wolves coach Dwane Casey. "It's a great opportunity," Chapman said of joining the Nuggets. "I definitely would not be leaving if it was a lateral move." Chapman will work for Mark Warkentien, the Nuggets' newly named vice president of basketball operations. Chapman's departure to Denver had been expected. His one-year contract with the Wolves expired earlier this summer, and the team hadn't pursued a renewal because signs pointed to Chapman joining the Nuggets, Stack said. Chapman played 12 seasons in the NBA and later joined the Phoenix Suns' front office. There had been speculation in the summer of 2005 that Chapman might be groomed as McHale's successor, fueled perhaps in part because of an erroneous Internet report that stated Chapman was replacing Stack as the team's GM. But Stack, whose contract was expiring, signed a multiyear deal to remain the GM. The roles for Hoiberg and Babcock aren't yet official, but an announcement defining their positions could come in the next couple of weeks. Stack said their responsibilities will be wide-ranging. "Like any franchise, everybody has all their fingers in the pot," Stack said. "There's a chain of command where Kevin's on top and then myself, and then it kind of branches out from there." --

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