Ready for Timberwolves Tim Connelly to make ‘informed mistakes’?
By Bret Stuter
What do you think about the guy who was just paid top-dollar to take over the reins with the Minnesota Timberwolves saying that he doesn’t have all the answers? Well, that is just what Minnesota Timberwolves president Tim Connelly said recently, and we’re here for it.
The executives who seem to have the best success in the NBA Draft are typically the ones who have the most respect for the chance not to succeed in the draft. Selecting prospects who may pan out with long and productive NBA careers is a blend of data, opportunity, durability, coachability, and player commitment.
And of those factors, an NBA executive has mastery over about 50 to 60 percent. So what about the rest? Those are either factors that are beyond the team’s control or lie in the future, beyond anyone’s influence. What does that all boil down to with Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly?
‘Informed mistakes.’
That’s actually quite refreshing to hear.
Tim Connelly: “We use this term quite often, you guys will get sick of it, ‘informed mistakes.’ We can’t be governed by fear. We have to be aggressive. We have to know everything about these players and who will fit with Finchy and the guys on the court.” pic.twitter.com/IGr5O3Ixh1
— John Meyer (@meyerNBA) May 31, 2022
The NBA Draft is a random opportunity to improve the team. Random in that there are no guarantees that any draft prospect will deliver pay dirt. Opportunity in that there is a chance, in whatever range, of improving the team’s roster with each selection.
Now if you bother to check the track record of the NBA Draft, you will be impressed. He is something of a Draft Whisperer, a person who seems to bend the rules of probability in his favor. How does he do it? Well, he won’t be sharing that information anytime soon. But the perspective or recognizing the likelihood of failure actually helps improve the chances of success. How?
Nothing is left to chance. No shortcuts are taken. Nobody is assumed to be a sure-fire success. And do vetting prospects involves both attributes and weaknesses. Then, it becomes easier to envision which young players may succeed based on what they bring to the team, and what the team brings the players.
Confused? You won’t be soon. Stay tuned folks, I think you are going to like what happens next
Trending. Timberwolves HC Chris Finch lobbied ownership to hire Connelly. light