The Tim Connelly Thread (prev./still Fire Him)

[Neeva]

It’s a really good move. Any of us could start next Gobert, Towns, Ant, and DLo and have a decent shot at the Western Conference finals. And for those worried about the picks, it doesn’t hurt you if you are good and if it turns out bad you could move Towns and Gobert for picks down the road, the cap is going up.

Dlo sucks 4 out of 5 games.

[Colbinii]

I hear we gave up 4 FRPs. We sent out no bad contracts. Kessler is another FRP. I love Rudy, but man that is a lot.

Its the price of a top 10-15 player in the league.

It's really not.

4 FRP (really 5 because of this year's) with only one having any protection, plus a swap, plus a bunch of expiring contracts and/or cheap useful players.

Sure it is. Dejounte Murray is a fringe allstar, Top 30-45 player in the league and was traded for 3 picks [2 unprotected].

[shrink]

Welcome to ARod and Lore. Big swings from guys who don’t know basketball.

[kidfozzy]

Given ANT becomes an overall better player than Donovan Mitchell (in which we all expect him to be), this trade will be worth it.

Connelly would not pull this trigger if he’d not be this high on Edwards.

[winforlose]

I knew we would need to give 2 unprotected firsts to make a move this big. But 3 is pushing it. Then to add a 4th with only top 5 protection is not excusable. Losing V8 in this mess hurts. Beverly was the team leader and culture setter. We could have signed and traded Okogie to make the money work, but we didn’t. My vote is to give TC till the start of the season to make another move (probably Dlo out,) and see what happens next. As it stands now I am okay with firing him. Even if we win the title this year (big if,) I am not sure it is worth the massive damage we did to our future.

[KGdaBom]

Its the price of a top 10-15 player in the league.

It's really not.

4 FRP (really 5 because of this year's) with only one having any protection, plus a swap, plus a bunch of expiring contracts and/or cheap useful players.

Sure it is. Dejounte Murray is a fringe allstar, Top 30-45 player in the league and was traded for 3 picks [2 unprotected].

Good point, but we did trade 5 FRPs (Kessler) in this deal. 5. I'm in shock and don't know what to think.

[Chello1]

People need to relax! we have had over twenty years of drafting in the lottery and could hit on less than 10% of those pics. These picks should be in the mid twenties to later..... Great move- Only player I hate giving up is BEV! Get excited we are finally a top 4 team in the west...... Great day to be a wolf backer!!!!!! The rest of the players given up are not players on a title contender. We are just used to being terrible so we think some of these guys are better than they are!

[Neeva]

Its the price of a top 10-15 player in the league.

It's really not.

4 FRP (really 5 because of this year's) with only one having any protection, plus a swap, plus a bunch of expiring contracts and/or cheap useful players.

Sure it is. Dejounte Murray is a fringe allstar, Top 30-45 player in the league and was traded for 3 picks [2 unprotected].

Bev, Vando>Gallo

[Foye]

This deal might be even more bizarre than the Wiggins deal that everyone knew would backfire…

I feel sorry for you guys.

[winforlose]

It's really not.

4 FRP (really 5 because of this year's) with only one having any protection, plus a swap, plus a bunch of expiring contracts and/or cheap useful players.

Sure it is. Dejounte Murray is a fringe allstar, Top 30-45 player in the league and was traded for 3 picks [2 unprotected].

Good point, but we did trade 5 FRPs (Kessler) in this deal. 5. I'm in shock and don't know what to think.

Kessler was found value in that we started the draft with one pick and ended the draft with one pick. Moore is who the FO wanted coming into the draft. I think we took Kessler for them. I think this was the plan all along. Either way, too many picks man, too many picks.

[Neeva]

People need to relax! we have had over twenty years of drafting in the lottery and could hit on less than 10% of those pics. These picks should be in the mid twenties to later..... Great move- Only player I hate giving up is BEV! Get excited we are finally a top 4 team in the west...... Great day to be a wolf backer!!!!!! The rest of the players given up are not players on a title contender. We are just used to being terrible so we think some of these guys are better than they are!

Well Connelly is known to be good at drafting but horrible at trades.

[Dalvin]

Connelly certainly didn't waste any time putting his imprint on the team

[Calinks]

[Colbinii]

It's really not.

4 FRP (really 5 because of this year's) with only one having any protection, plus a swap, plus a bunch of expiring contracts and/or cheap useful players.

Sure it is. Dejounte Murray is a fringe allstar, Top 30-45 player in the league and was traded for 3 picks [2 unprotected].

Good point, but we did trade 5 FRPs (Kessler) in this deal. 5. I'm in shock and don't know what to think.

Here is what I will say:

We all have a right to be upset because its a ton of draft capital.

We may not be as high on Gobert, and if that's the case, dig into all the all-in-one statistics and plus-minus for the past few years where Gobert looks like an MVP candidate.

But, let's look at the Wolves history of drafting outside of the "#1 pick" where they selected Towns and Edwards.

2020: McDaniels
2019: Culver
2018: Okogie
2017: Trades #7 for Jimmy Butler [Markkanen was selected]
2016: Khris Dunn
2015: Towns [#1]
2014: Zach LaVine

2014-2020 is essentially the same as 2023-2029. Our best move in the draft since 2014 was literally a trade where we got a star in Jimmy Butler.

McDaniels still has a lot of potential but here is the thing: A core of Towns/Edwards was likely picking in the early 20s every season [Maybe 18-24 is more realistic]. At some point, we needed to make a move for a star and instead of wasting another year of Edwards/KAT with a 1st round or if lucky 2nd round exit, the ownership group and upper management went all-in.

Perhaps you wanted to develop our picks in the 20s, whom as I posted about a few weeks ago prior to draft, the single best player picked from 18-22 was John Collins [not even an all-star], all the other players were not even starting caliber and half aren't even in the NBA anymore!

Yes, this move is a literal all-in, but now we have a Full-House and could have 4-of-a-kind if we play our cards right.

[shangrila]

People really think this was Connelly? The guy everyone in Denver told us hated making trades and focused solely on the draft?

This has ARod/Lore written all over it.

[babyjax13]

Its the price of a top 10-15 player in the league.

It's really not.

4 FRP (really 5 because of this year's) with only one having any protection, plus a swap, plus a bunch of expiring contracts and/or cheap useful players.

Utah fans are super happy , you know this is horrible.

We are? I think the value was about right for a trade with no clear centerpiece. I would have rather traded Mitchell and kept Gobert. Not super convinced the fit with Towns is perfect, but the Wolves are the best team in the West as of today IMO

[Colbinii]

It's really not.

4 FRP (really 5 because of this year's) with only one having any protection, plus a swap, plus a bunch of expiring contracts and/or cheap useful players.

Sure it is. Dejounte Murray is a fringe allstar, Top 30-45 player in the league and was traded for 3 picks [2 unprotected].

Bev, Vando>Gallo

Sure but neither Bev nor Vando are worth a 1st.

[Baseline81]

Gobert is locked up for the next four (4) years, all while he's still in his prime, and is arguably one of the best defensive players in the NBA ever. If you want to shoot for the moon, it comes at a cost.

We may have shot for the moon but paid as if we were aiming for another planet.

[vtime]

Been in the lottery most of the last 20 years and only have Edwards and KAT to show for it. Let’s not lose our minds over picks.

[Neeva]

Been in the lottery most of the last 20 years and only have Edwards and KAT to show for it. Let’s not lose our minds over picks.

This argument doesn’t fly, who else would pay all that for Rudy?