Back in late March, it was reported that the Dallas Mavericks were interested in Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly. At the time, I dismissed the idea that he would leave, especially given the Mavericks' interest in other top executives. However, since then, there has been continuous buzz about this being a genuine possibility.
Recently, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (subscription required) reported thatConnelly is seen as "gettable" once the Wolves' season is over and that's something no Wolves fan wants to hear.
"League sources say that the Mavericks continue to have strong interest in the pursuit of Wolves lead executive Tim Connelly, who is suddenly awash in plaudits given how much damage two players he traded for — Rudy Gobert and Ayo Dosunmu — are inflicting upon a third-seeded Denver team that Connelly also largely assembled. Dallas is searching for a new head of basketball operations and, while Connelly is said to no longer hold an opt-out provision in his current contract, belief persists in various league circles that there are scenarios that would render him "gettable" once Minnesota's 2025-26 season is complete."
To make matters worse, The Stein Line noted Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd is a "prime target" to land a job in the Chicago Bulls' new front office. Lloyd got his start in the NBA with the Bulls. As such, Lloyd leaving Minnesota feels feasible.Â
If the Wolves lose both Connelly and Lloyd shortly after the season's end, they would have to build a front office on the fly before a crucial offseason. Needless to say, that would be challenging and could ultimately hinder their offseason in an undesired way. It's worth noting that Connelly and Lloyd make up one of the league's best front offices, and replicating this would be challenging.Â
The Timberwolves have a vital offseason ahead of them
With Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards both suffering heartbreaking injuries, I'm not going out on a limb by saying the Wolves will fall short of their championship aspirations. Still, the playoffs have shown that the Wolves have a championship-level ceiling.Â
Minnesota has shut down the Denver Nuggets' high-powered offense while attacking the Nuggets relentlessly on the other end of the court. This elite two-way balance is undoubtedly championship caliber. If injuries hadn't gotten in the way, it's possible the Wolves would have gone on a miraculous title run.Â
Nevertheless, the Wolves were the No. 6 seed for a reason: They were highly erratic in the regular season, and at times their roster looked flat-out flawed. Do you trust this core to win at the highest level, or is another move needed? It's a tough question, to say the least.
Then, there's the financial aspect of needing to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu, but also, in turn, likely make a cost-cutting move.
Frankly, it seems like Julius Randle is the most likely trade candidate. But trusting a new front office to find a package that helps the team and saves money is dicey.Â
I would fully trust Connelly and Lloyd to make the right decision. A new front office, though? Absolutely not, there are simply too many paths where things go sideways.Â
Losing one of Connelly or Lloyd (especially Connelly) would be problematic and unfortunate. If the Wolves lose both, though, it could be a nightmare of a summer and hinder the team's ability to compete for a championship.Â
Am I being slightly dramatic? Maybe, but there's no denying that this is a vital offseason for the Wolves, and trusting a new front office to make the right decisions is risky at the very least.Â
Hopefully, these rumors don't turn into reality, and Connelly and Lloyd return to Minnesota.
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