Tim Connelly surely isn’t afraid to make a bold trade. That much was proven while Connelly was running the Denver Nuggets, and even more so with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Since joining the Wolves in the 2022 offseason, he has made many transactions in the name of helping the club.
This offseason, Connelly dealt away the ultimate fan favorite, Naz Reid. That could cause the fan base to quickly turn against him if acquiring LaMelo Ball doesn’t work out as hoped. There’s a lot on the line regarding Connelly’s legacy and future with the team because of this offseason deal.
Connelly needed to do something to keep up with Western Conference powerhouses
Any objective viewer of the NBA would have to notice that the Timberwolves are in a better place now than they were before Connelly started. Sure, part of that is Anthony Edwards continuing to develop into a superstar. However, it’s not as if Connelly has simply sat on his hands and enjoyed Edwards’ ascension.
The trade for Ball might be Connelly’s most important and biggest boom-or-bust move thus far. Minnesota went one round less far in the playoffs in 2026 than it had in the previous two years. The Timberwolves looked to be on the verge of finally reaching their first NBA Finals, but those chances have diminished in the eyes of many.
That is because the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder exist in the Western Conference. Those two teams were certainly the cream of the crop in the West last season. The Thunder won it all the year before, and both teams look as if they will have staying power.
Ball is going to raise the Timberwolves’ ceiling, particularly on the offensive end. Just look at the on-off scoring numbers for the Charlotte Hornets in recent years with Ball. Still, the soon-to-be 25-year-old has also never appeared in a postseason game and has a lengthy injury history. Now, Ball did remain mostly healthy last season, but that may have been partly due to playing fewer minutes to help ensure that would happen.
Something had to be done with the Timberwolves' roster, or else there was a pretty good chance that they would become less and less likely to come out of the West as time went on. The team was in obvious need of a playmaker, and Connelly provided one while sacrificing size.
It was a risky move, though, and if things don't go as planned, Connelly has stripped the Timberwolves of their draft capital.
Connelly's contract is up after this season
Looking at his time in Minnesota, Connelly has had his fair share of hits and misses, probably more of the former.
Some hits include the Rudy Gobert trade, which was seen as an overpay at the time; acquiring Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Mike Conley; and trading for Ayo Dosunmu. Some misses include the trade with the Spurs to acquire the pick used to select Rob Dillingham and allowing Alexander-Walker to leave in free agency.
For now, Connelly is entering the last year of his contract. Normally, a team wouldn’t want the head honcho in charge of making moves to have lame-duck status, but that’s the case currently. Perhaps ownership knows how crucial it is for the Ball trade to work out and wants to see him in action for some time before offering Connelly an extension, or deciding to just let his contract expire.
I don’t think Connelly would never get another chance to be the GM of another team if the Timberwolves decide to move on. It just might take him a little longer to get that chance if Minnesota takes a step backward in 2026–27, and he could be remembered as a gambler, not a brilliant mind.
Add us as a preferred source on Google