Tim Connelly has never been shy about swinging big, and his latest move may end up defining everything that comes next in Minnesota.
The Timberwolves’ decision to bring in LaMelo Ball this offseason is the kind of bet that can reshape a franchise’s direction - or leave it scrambling if the fit falls apart. It also comes with real baggage, because Minnesota sent away fan favorite Naz Reid to make it happen. If Ball doesn’t deliver, the backlash could land squarely on Connelly, with his legacy and future in the organization suddenly looking a lot less secure.
That’s what makes this deal so much bigger than a normal roster shakeup. Connelly has spent the 2022 offseason onward remaking the Wolves in pursuit of a team that can keep pace with the West’s heavyweights, and the pressure only grows when you look at the conference landscape.
The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder were the top of the mountain last season, with the Thunder winning it all the year before. Those teams appear built to stay there.
Minnesota, meanwhile, went one round less far in the playoffs in 2026 than it had in each of the previous two years. The Wolves had been on the edge of something bigger, at least in the eyes of many, but that sense of momentum has cooled. Connelly clearly felt the roster needed another jolt, and Ball was his answer.
The appeal is obvious. Ball should lift Minnesota’s offensive ceiling, and his playmaking fills a real need.
The on-off scoring numbers for the Charlotte Hornets in recent years with Ball back up that idea. But the risks are just as loud.
He’s about to turn 25, has never played in a postseason game, and carries a long injury history. He did stay mostly healthy last season, though that may have been helped by playing fewer minutes.
So this wasn’t a luxury move. It was a necessity. Minnesota needed a playmaker, and Connelly chose to add one even if it meant giving up size and draining the team’s draft capital.
His track record in Minnesota has had plenty of good moments. The Rudy Gobert trade, which looked like an overpay at the time, has become one of the brighter spots.
So have the acquisitions of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Mike Conley, along with the trade for Ayo Dosunmu. But there have been misses too, including the Spurs trade that led to the pick used on Rob Dillingham and the decision to let Alexander-Walker walk in free agency.
Now the stakes are even higher because Connelly is in the final year of his contract. That creates an awkward situation for any front office, especially one making a move this massive. Ownership may simply want to see how the Ball gamble plays out before deciding whether to extend him or let the deal run out.
Connelly probably wouldn’t be locked out of another general manager job forever if Minnesota eventually moved on. But if the Wolves slip backward in 2026-27, the label attached to him could change fast. Instead of being remembered as the architect who pushed the franchise forward, he could wind up looking like a gambler who pushed too hard.
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Timberwolves Just Built A Lakers Matchup Fans Should Love
Minnesotas trade for LaMelo Ball has already added another layer to a Timberwolves roster that was built to cause problems on the perimeter, and that matters because the Lakers have spent the offseason trying to rework a team that looks very different after LeBron James departure. Los Angeles brought in nine new players, including center Walker Kessler, but the bigger question is whether all that turnover actually solves the kind of issues that tend to show up in a playoff series against a disciplined, physical defense.
From Minnesotas perspective, the matchup is appealing because the Lakers are still viewed as thin on strong on-ball defenders, which could leave them chasing Minnesotas guards and wings possession after possession. With Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels setting the tone on the perimeter, the Timberwolves would seem to have the pieces to pressure a revamped Lakers roster in ways that could matter most when the games slow down and every matchup gets magnified. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Are Sending A Clear Message About Joan Beringer
The Timberwolves offseason has made the frontcourt picture a lot clearer around Rudy Gobert, and Joan Beringer is one of the main beneficiaries. After the roster reshuffle left the team thinner up front, the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is positioned to matter more than he did as a rookie, when his minutes were limited and his opportunities came in smaller bursts.
Chris Finch and the Wolves seem comfortable leaning into Beringers upside now, especially as a rim protector and energy piece off the bench. For a team that has already changed the mix around him, the next step is less about patience and more about whether Beringer can turn that trust into a real rotation role. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Edwards Faces A Bigger Timberwolves Challenge This Season
Anthony Edwards entered the summer with another reminder of how much the Timberwolves are asking him to do. In the Court of Gold documentary, Warriors and Team USA coach Steve Kerr pushed Edwards on a simple point that still carries real weight for Minnesota: if he wants to keep climbing, his rebounding has to climb with him. It is a fair challenge for a player whose energy and athleticism already shape so much of the Wolves identity, especially after the offseason changes around him.
Edwards has shown he can help on the glass when the game turns physical and he is locked in at both ends. The bigger question is whether Minnesota can get that version of him more consistently now that the roster has shifted and the offensive burden may not rest on his shoulders quite as heavily. If he uses that extra breathing room to stay engaged defensively, the rebounding piece could become a real separator for both him and the Wolves. [Read more 🡒]