DENVER -- The prospects of a return home to Washington and the Wizards were undeniably appealing to Tim Connelly. But not nearly as alluring as finishing what he started with the Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets' president of basketball operations elected to stay in town, even with the Wizards calling.

The Nuggets, who boast a young nucleus led by big man Nikola Jokic, won 54 games this season before the No. 2 seed lost to Portland in Game 7 of the second round of the playoffs.

"It's safe to assume, and maybe it's me being overly optimistic, that we're going to see a better version of us next year," Connelly said Tuesday. "I don't know if that means more wins. I don't know if we're going to win a playoff series and advance, but I don't think there's any reason to think there will be any regression next season."

A Baltimore native, Connelly appreciated the audience with Washington owner Ted Leonsis. He said he was flattered by their recent "exchange of ideas" as the Wizards look to fill the role of team president after Ernie Grunfeld was fired in April.

"The relationships that have been built up here and the hard times we've been through -- it was very hard to envision leaving something that has been so hard and so long coming in its build," said Connelly, who broke into the NBA with the Wizards as an intern in the basketball operations department, then as an assistant video coordinator and as a scout.

Connelly was hired as Denver's general manager in July 2013, and team president Josh Kroenke stayed patient with him. Connelly brought in coach Michael Malone before the 2015-16 season and they've steadily progressed since -- from 33 wins in Malone's first year to 54 this season, including a league-leading 34-7 home mark.

"We did not get off to a good start by any stretch, and [Kroenke] doubled down on what easily could have been perceived as an initial mistake because he liked the processes and liked how we attacked our job day to day," said Connelly, who was promoted to president of basketball operations in 2017. "Loyalty and patience is such a rarity in professional sports and that's here in spades. So those things matter to me."

Connelly and his staff have struck it rich in the draft, taking Jokic with the 41st pick of the second round in 2014. They've also selected Jamal Murray, along with up-and-comers Juancho Hernangomez, Malik Beasley and Michael Porter Jr., who sat out this season as he recovered from back surgery.

The biggest offseason decision remains what to do with veteran leader Paul Millsap. The team holds a $30 million option, which could be restructured.

"I fully expect Paul to be back in a Nuggets uniform," Connelly said.

On the free-agency front, Denver hasn't exactly been an attractive landing spot in recent summers. But Connelly sees that starting to change and believes the unselfish play of Jokic could be an enticing selling point. Denver could be in the market for another shooter and a power forward in order to take the next step.

"It will be fascinating to make those calls" in free agency, Connelly said. "If they say it's about winning and the answer is about winning and they don't talk to us, then I think it's a disingenuous answer."

The Nuggets turned some heads throughout the regular season as they challenged Golden State down to the wire for the best mark in the West. They beat San Antonio in seven games in the first round before falling to the Trail Blazers.

"We sent a pretty loud message," Malone said. "I think there were questions about our team all year long, for whatever reason. How legitimate are they? Are they really a No. 2 seed? Can they take their game into the playoffs with so many young guys that've never been there before?

"We answered so many questions about our team in the best way possible."