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

[SO_MONEY]

Well, one observation about last year is that despite some of the worse circumstances, like the bulk of the Rudy-KAT minutes coming in the first 20 games, when Gobert was beat up and KAT was coming from a hospitalization, that pair STILL had a positive Net Rating.

Another observation is that Connelly has still called it an experiment, and Finch has shown he knows how to work with two bigs, and has intimated that this is a big off-season for the pairing.

I think there are observations that can lead to optimism, optimism that some people flat out reject. I don’t know if it’s going to work, but I certainly am not at a point that I can say it won’t.

But KGdaBom said it isn't an experiment?

It isn't. It's playing basketball. Not experimenting.

You win. The Stanford Prison Experiment wasn't actually an experiment... it was just people playing prison.

[KGdaBom]

To me they're just basketball players. You made a decent explanation for calling it an experiment, but I totally disagree with it being an experiment.

Do you even know what the word "experiment" means?

It sounds as if you don't...

It sound as if you have no intellect or reading comprehension. You can call any and every new lineup a coach chooses to put on the floor an experiment. Once you see how it works it is no longer an experiment. So in that regard OK it's an experiment. The Gobert/Towns pairing is no more of an experiment than any other new pairing in the NBA.

[SO_MONEY]

To me they're just basketball players. You made a decent explanation for calling it an experiment, but I totally disagree with it being an experiment.

Do you even know what the word "experiment" means?

It sounds as if you don't...

It sound as if you have no intellect or reading comprehension. You can call any and every new lineup a coach chooses to put on the floor an experiment. Once you see how it works it is no longer an experiment. So in that regard OK it's an experiment. The Gobert/Towns pairing is no more of an experiment than any other new pairing in the NBA.

You win again!!! It was not an experiment to build ships from steel... It floats because wood ships float.

[Klomp]

A+ offseason so far…now get those extensions done!

[Baseline81]

A+ offseason so far…now get those extensions done!

Not sure how you can say that so definitively.

[KGdaBom]

A+ offseason so far…now get those extensions done!

Not sure how you can say that so definitively.

I have no problem with calling it an A. A+ maybe not. Getting the 33rd pick was a great value and the player we got with that pick was a great value. Managing to keep Naz and NAW was good and Shake Milton is going to make many teams rue the day they let him go to us.

[Note30]

A+ offseason so far…now get those extensions done!

Not sure how you can say that so definitively.

Yeah, it's not bad though. It's definitely positive

[younggunsmn]

I give the offseason a solid B+ for bringing Naz back, and NAW on a reasonable deal.
The other moves look promising, but they are paper tigers until we see those guys on the court.

[Klomp]

A+ offseason so far…now get those extensions done!

Not sure how you can say that so definitively.

1. Size and positional flexibility. I believe Conley and McLaughlin are our only players shorter than 6-foot-5. This is how the Nuggets are built.
2. Didn't sacrifice youth. Shake Milton (27) is only outside addition over the age of 25.
3. Team-friendly contracts. Club options are huge. Allows for an easy pathway to clear room for youth in the rotation whenever they're ready.

Only 2024-25 guaranteed contracts are Towns, Gobert, Reid, Edwards, McDaniels and Alexander-Walker. Connelly can continue to mold this roster any way he wants. If something doesn't work, it's easy to pivot.

[younggunsmn]

A+ offseason so far…now get those extensions done!

Not sure how you can say that so definitively.

1. Size and positional flexibility. I believe Conley and McLaughlin are our only players shorter than 6-foot-5. This is how the Nuggets are built.
2. Didn't sacrifice youth. Shake Milton (27) is only outside addition over the age of 25.
3. Team-friendly contracts. Club options are huge. Allows for an easy pathway to clear room for youth in the rotation whenever they're ready.

Only 2024-25 guaranteed contracts are Towns, Gobert, Reid, Edwards, McDaniels and Alexander-Walker. Connelly can continue to mold this roster any way he wants. If something doesn't work, it's easy to pivot.

Those 6 players are going to make ~175 million in '24-25.
He will be doing all his pivoting with rookies and vet minimums, unless and until he moves KAT or Gobert.
I can see guys like Moore getting dumped into cap space next offseason to save money if they don't show improvement.

I do like all of the contracts so far this offseason though, good value and flexibility.
The Jaden McDaniels extension is going to be the most challenging.
Cam Johnson just got 4/108 as a RFA and McDaniels is arguably a better player.

[Klomp]

He will be doing all his pivoting with rookies and vet minimums, unless and until he moves KAT or Gobert.

Moore, Minott, Miller, Clark and Spagnolo are already good to go as strong options there...

[younggunsmn]

He will be doing all his pivoting with rookies and vet minimums, unless and until he moves KAT or Gobert.

Moore, Minott, Miller, Clark and Spagnolo are already good to go as strong options there...

I admire your optimism.

If one or 2 of those guys become good rotation players it will be a win.
Of those, I think Miller has the best shot.

[Klomp]

He will be doing all his pivoting with rookies and vet minimums, unless and until he moves KAT or Gobert.

For those who are stuck on the Towns trade idea, budget-friendly second rotation veterans such as Brown, Alexander-Walker and Milton will also serve as valuable chips if a trade were to be constructed midseason. 5-for-1 trades rarely if ever happen at the trade deadline.

[shrink]

Can I ask Note to edit the title in the opening post to just be the Tim Connelly thread?

Or lock this one and start a new one.

[Battletrigger]

He will be doing all his pivoting with rookies and vet minimums, unless and until he moves KAT or Gobert.

Moore, Minott, Miller, Clark and Spagnolo are already good to go as strong options there...

Spagnolo is not an NBA caliber player. And at this point, Moore neither. Clark is a question mark since it's recovering from a difficult injury.

[KGdaBom]

He will be doing all his pivoting with rookies and vet minimums, unless and until he moves KAT or Gobert.

Moore, Minott, Miller, Clark and Spagnolo are already good to go as strong options there...

Spagnolo is not an NBA caliber player. And at this point, Moore neither. Clark is a question mark since it's recovering from a difficult injury.

Agreed. Klomp is being a bit too optimistic.

[urinesane]

Can I ask Note to edit the title in the opening post to just be the Tim Connelly thread?

Or lock this one and start a new one.

Sort of like Finch only had a firing thread until I made one this offseason... this fan base is depressingly negative at times.

[guest81]

Can I ask Note to edit the title in the opening post to just be the Tim Connelly thread?

Or lock this one and start a new one.

Sort of like Finch only had a firing thread until I made one this offseason... this fan base is depressingly negative at times.

Wolves are one of the losingest franchises in sports. Fans can act however they want

[urinesane]

Can I ask Note to edit the title in the opening post to just be the Tim Connelly thread?

Or lock this one and start a new one.

Sort of like Finch only had a firing thread until I made one this offseason... this fan base is depressingly negative at times.

Wolves are one of the losingest franchises in sports. Fans can act however they want

People can act however they want, I've never said otherwise, but it's a waste of their time. If fans can complain about KAT whining to refs, I can complain about our fans whining about EVERYTHING. One of the "losingest" franchises in sports starts to win (two above .500 seasons in a row with playoff appearances) and all of a sudden the goalposts shift all the way to championship contention or gfy? It's hilarious (and sad).

I wonder why people even bother calling themselves fans when they seem to constantly look for things to be unhappy about... I think most turn to sports for a distraction from their own lives and get mad when it doesn't distract them enough.

[guest81]

Sort of like Finch only had a firing thread until I made one this offseason... this fan base is depressingly negative at times.

Wolves are one of the losingest franchises in sports. Fans can act however they want

People can act however they want, I've never said otherwise, but it's a waste of their time. If fans can complain about KAT whining to refs, I can complain about our fans whining about EVERYTHING. One of the "losingest" franchises in sports starts to win (two above .500 seasons in a row with playoff appearances) and all of a sudden the goalposts shift all the way to championship contention or gfy? It's hilarious (and sad).

I wonder why people even bother calling themselves fans when they seem to constantly look for things to be unhappy about... I think most turn to sports for a distraction from their own lives and get mad when it doesn't distract them enough.

One is being upset with the product that the timberwolves out and the other is being upset on where fans want to spend their time and money. Completely different things. It's on the wolves to put up a good product, not on fans to shut up and eat their vegetables so to speak