He had nice moments. A long bridge exists between moments and being the main conductor and sidekick who alleviates some of the pressure on Anthony Edwards. That piece is missing from the puzzle.
Asked if Dillingham has secured that level of trust, Connelly answered, “I think so.”
“We just saw the championship team is very youthful,” he said of the Oklahoma City Thunder. “The [second] youngest team to ever win it all. I think our environment has allowed these guys to grow, even if it’s not always growing in front of our eyes in games. I just trust that a handful of our young guys are ready to take that jump, and I think Finch shares that same faith.”
They know Dillingham’s readiness better than anyone on the outside. If they conclude the risk is too high to stand pat, does Connelly attempt to go big or medium in scale? Another blockbuster trade would require parting with key assets, and if that involved Jaden McDaniels, the answer should be “heck no.”
“Until we win it all, we’ve got to challenge ourselves,” Connelly said. “We’re happy with our team, but we’re still not content with the outcome last year.”
It’s hard to believe they feel content with their point guard situation. That should remain a priority on Connelly’s to-do list.