A new President for the Minnesota Timberwolves? Welcome, Tim Connelly

Will Connelly be worth the price?

The multi-year compensation package is a huge package by the ownership to offer a team president. Clearly, the Timberwolves wanted Connelly badly. While the contracted compensation was likely what was necessary to hire Connelly, it does complicate any future ability of the team to fire Connelly if they are dissatisfied with his performance.

Of course, today is filled with smiles, handshakes, and the obligatory rosy views of the team’s future. It’s all standard so far.  Blah blah blah.

"“My family and I couldn’t be more excited to join the Timberwolves organization,” said Connelly. “I appreciate Glen, Becky, Marc and Alex’s confidence in me to lead this organization and I can’t wait to get to work to build an elite franchise that our fans can continue to be proud of.” – as per Tim Connelly on joining the Minnesota Timberwolves Family “We are excited to welcome Tim and his wife, Negah, along with their children to our Timberwolves family,” said Timberwolves and Lynx Chief Executive Officer Ethan Casson. “This is such an important hire for the organization and our fans, we are confident that Tim’s leadership will be a major part of our continued growth and future success.” -via Minnesota Timberwolves Name Tim Connelly as President of Basketball Operations."

Where this all gets interesting is the way Connelly handles the NBA Draft for the Timberwolves. Will he sit with the current picks and simply pick the players who fall to him at those spots? Will he be a wheeler-dealer, and exchange draft picks to position the team to select the one or two players in this draft who could make a huge difference?

Or will he instead use draft picks and perhaps existing players as trade bait to land some of the key players who could be available for the right price in the NBA trade market?

The Timberwolves roster is already in pretty good shape. Now, the team needs a surgeon’s guided hand to snip here, stitch there, and transplant new NBA talent to carry the team to the next level. That’s a tall order for someone who is just deboarding a plane, isn’t it?

But the Minnesota Timberwolves paid top dollar for results. And new President Tim Connelly knew from the moment that he signs the new contract, that his success or failure will be based upon how quickly, and how thoroughly, he delivers on those results.