Tim Connelly is a fantastic executive, one of the best in the NBA. I want to make that clear. Between his bold yet crafty trades and drafting the biggest steal of all-time (Nikola Jokic) when he was in Denver, Connelly's track record is undeniable. However, with trading up for Rob Dillingham in 2024 and drafting Joan Beringer in 2025, Connelly's draft strategy is suddenly under question.
Let me be clear, Beringer could very well be the Minnesota Timberwolves center of the future, and it's far too early to make any definitive statements about a 19-year-old who has yet to play meaningful NBA minutes. On the other hand, Dillingham has proven to be too raw and could be traded at the deadline. Beringer's upside is clear, but he's also a raw prospect who hasn't been able to earn minutes despite a need for a backup five behind Rudy Gobert.
The Timberwolves need to rethink their affinity for raw draft prospects
Blame Chris Finch, if you want. I get it, he hasn't been perfect, and I would certainly give Beringer a chance. However, Finch gave Dillingham somewhat of a real chance this season, and he looked unplayable on offense. For the season, Dillingham is averaging 3.6 points on a 37.8 effective field goal percentage.
The bigger picture is that it's really hard to develop young players on a team with title aspirations. Connelly's focus on potential is understandable, but considering the context of the team, finding players who can immediately contribute should be the priority, especially given the Wolves' lack of depth. Knowing what we know about Finch, polished players who can contribute from day one seem more like his type of guy than a high-upside yet raw rookie.
Of Connelly's recent draft picks with the Wolves, Jaylen Clark is the only one who has hit in any sort of way to date. Clark was a second-round pick in 2023 and a three-year college player. While he missed his entire rookie season with an Achilles injury, Clark's tenacious defense has made him a quality part of the Wolves' rotation.
The easy counter to this is that Terrence Shannon Jr. (a five-year college player) hasn't panned out in his two years with the Wolves. However, I'd like to point out that he's dealt with injuries. Furthermore, the chances of a seasoned college player contributing are inherently higher than the chances of a raw prospect developing and/or being ahead of schedule.
Nailing every single draft pick is impossible. Still, continuing to bet on upside as a competitive team isn't super logical, and since these players haven't panned out, the Wolves' depth is limited.
The draft seems far away now, but when it rolls around, hopefully, Connelly will prioritize players who are ready to play real minutes from day one.