A major ownership shake-up in Minnesota has put the Timberwolves’ front office situation right back in the spotlight, and Tim Connelly is at the center of it.
Last week, it was reported that co-owner Marc Lore sold his majority stake in the Timberwolves and the Minnesota Lynx to Marc Stad for $4.5 billion. Lore will remain involved as a minority owner, but the arrival of Stad could have a major effect on what comes next for Connelly, the team’s president of basketball operations, who is heading into the final year of his contract.
Connelly has already drawn outside interest. The Dallas Mavericks made a run at hiring him a few months ago to replace Nico Harrison after his firing, but that pursuit never got off the ground. Dallas ultimately moved on to Masai Ujiri.
For now, though, the early signs point toward Connelly staying in place. According to The Stein Line’s Marc Stein, Connelly is expected to remain with the Timberwolves even after the ownership change.
“Timberwolves lead roster decision-maker Tim Connelly is said to have a strong relationship with Stad. This figures to be key given that Connelly-after Dallas ultimately conceded in the spring that it would not be granted permission to pursue Connelly for its front office vacancy as the Mavericks had initially hoped-is entering the final year of his current contract in 2026-27 and needs a new deal,” wrote Stein on his Substack.
Stein also pointed to the Wolves’ recent success, noting, “The Wolves have won five separate playoff series over the past three seasons with star swingman Anthony Edwards, coach Chris Finch, and Connelly as their leading trio of influence.”
There’s still a waiting game ahead. Stein reported that the NBA’s approval process for Stad, who has a net worth of $5 billion, could run until January. That means it’s too early to know how involved Stad will want to be once he’s officially in charge.
In the meantime, Connelly can keep his attention on the job itself instead of contract uncertainty. Minnesota hired him in 2022, and this past offseason the Timberwolves made a push to reshape the roster around Edwards, adding LaMelo Ball while moving on from Julius Randle and Naz Reid in an effort to better fit Edwards’ prime years.
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Niangs case comes with an asterisk, since he is working his way back from foot surgery after missing all of last season. Love, meanwhile, would bring a different kind of appeal for Minnesota after his recent run with the Jazz, and his history with the franchise makes him an easy fit to discuss in a market that still values his profile. Neither looks like a lock to solve the position on his own, but both are the sort of depth pieces that could become more important if the bigger swing does not come through. [Read more 🡒]
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If the Wolves can get him, Kuminga could step into a starting role and add another young, explosive piece to a core that already has plenty of established talent. The catch is the path to making it happen may require real compromise, with a short-term deal at a reduced salary likely the cleanest way for Minnesota to bring him in and let him rebuild his value. Whether that is enough to lure him away from bigger-market alternatives remains the unresolved part, and it is what makes this one worth watching. [Read more 🡒]