No NBA executive has been more active than Tim Connelly since he was hired as the Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations in 2022, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, who points out that Connelly has made at least one major trade in every season on the job, including controversial deals for Rudy Gobert and LaMelo Ball. As Krawczynski details, Connelly’s aggressive approach stands out in an industry where many execs have a tendency to play it safe in the hopes of keeping their jobs as long as possible.
“My industry has become so risk-averse,” Connelly said. “They’re so concerned about real-time analysis (from the media). … In all reality, either you’re trying to win, or you’re chasing that. Occasionally you can rebuild in the years that present itself when you have a (Victor) Wembanyama or someone like that. But the frustrating thing about our league right now is that too many teams are trying to survive and trying to be in between.”
The Timberwolves made the Western Conference finals in both 2024 and 2025, but they were unable to break through either time and then were eliminated in the second round of the 2026 playoffs. That prompted Connelly to once again reshape Minnesota’s roster by sending out Julius Randle and Naz Reid in a blockbuster deal for Ball.
“Until you win the championship, you’ve just got to keep shuffling cards,” he explained. “I don’t think we can be fear-driven. One of the few upticks of having a team that doesn’t have the proudest history is you shouldn’t be afraid to swing. … If it doesn’t work and it’s my job, I’ll get fired. That’s fine. But I don’t ever want to be in a position where we’re reluctant to take big swings.”
Here’s more from across the Northwest:
One of the reasons why Timberwolves officials were so excited to acquire Ball this offseason was their belief that he could help elevate Jaden McDaniels’ game, Krawczynski writes in another article for The Athletic. McDaniels spoke earlier this fall about wanting to become an All-Star, Krawczynski observes, and so far this preseason he has looked capable of taking another leap. The 26-year-old forward has scored 47 points in just under 60 minutes through three games, making 66.7% of his shots from the floor, including 75.0% of his three-point tries.
Nuggets forward Spencer Jones, who is recovering from a left hamstring strain, is still limited to non-contact work, head coach David Adelman said on Tuesday, per Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette (Twitter link). Once he’s cleared for contact, Jones will have to work through 1-on-1, 3-on-3, and 5-on-5 work, so it sounds like his fall debut is still a ways off.
While several of the Nuggets’ top reserves are new to the team this fall, Tyus Jones finished the 2025/26 season in Denver and figures to be the “driver” of the second unit, Benedetto writes in a full story for The Denver Gazette (subscription required). “Tyus does such a great job of getting everybody open, getting everybody involved,” teammate DaRon Holmes said of the veteran point guard. “He’s a leader. He’s a talker. You need guys like that on your team. That’s why he’s been in the NBA for such a long time, because he does it at such a high level.”
Prior to Monday’s exhibition vs. the London Lions, Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon met with several local business leaders and government officials, per Bill Oram of The Oregonian, who suggests that the informal meetings were a precursor to more “substantive and pointed” discussions that will take place next week. The city of Portland is negotiating with Dundon and the Blazers in an effort to finalize funding for renovations to the Moda Center — and to keep the franchise in Oregon long-term.
Ja Morant’s father, Tee Morant, came away impressed after meeting Dundon for the first time on Monday and says his son has felt rejuvenated since joining the Trail Blazers, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic (free link).