The Denver Nuggets have signed Mike Malone to a four-year deal as their new head coach on Monday.

The 44-year-old Malone replaced interim head coach Melvin Hunt, who took over the team last season after Brian Shaw was fired by the Nuggets in March.

There had been a three-way competition for the Denver's chief tactician job between Malone, Hunt, and ex-Lakers, Knicks, Nuggets, and Suns coach Mike D'Antoni prior to the signing. But after much deliberation, management decided to go for the former Sacramento Kings' coach to lead them next season, as reported by the Toronto Sun.

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Malone himself was released by the Kings' in December 2014, after only 24 games in the 2014-2015 season. It was his second year in Sacramento, wherein he tallied a dismal 39-67 win-loss record during that span before he was replaced by veteran coach George Karl.

Curiously, the last team that Karl coached was the Nuggets in 2013. It was as if the two had just swapped benches.

In an introductory press conference on Tuesday, Malone intimated his plans for his new team come next season.

Known for his slow-paced, defensive-minded coaching style, he reminded reporters of his credentials before saying that he does not want to be "painted" or "put in a hole" to be someone that he is not, as per The Denver Post. He also mentioned something about efficiency and maximizing roster strength, which Nuggets president Josh Kroenke backed up.

Apparently, the management and the players want to implement a running game, or at least a faster pace than what Malone usually applies, in which he is quick to approve but in one condition: rebound well and play tighter defense.

Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes said that it is highly unlikely that Malone will change his coaching philosophy anytime soon. He noted that his half-court set and rigid style offense would irritate speedy point guard Ty Lawson and energetic forward Kenneth Faried even more.

But since these two players are rumored to be going out of Denver soon, management may have decided to go with Malone to establish order and structure to their free-flowing offense.

Hughes ended that even when the Nuggets are at risk of changing their team identity with the move, there is not much to change at all when it comes to having a winning identity. And winning is all that the front office wanted.

TagsNBA 2015, NBA news, NBA News 2015, Mike Malone, Mike D'Antoni, Melvin Hunt