Krawczynski: Tim Connelly as POBO (Official! page 6)

[TimberKat]

You can add another player to the bad contract list, CBS predicts SGA will be the first 400m player

[Note30]

This week I have already two times heard/read that Towns and Gobert are both top-10 worst contracts in NBA

First was this podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bball-index/id1253824635

Second, was BS/BR article
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10083835-predicting-the-nbas-worst-contracts-next-season

I don't agree that neither Gobert nor Towns contracts is top-10 worst contract in NBA. At least not yet. But,

1) I can see situation get worse in 2024-25 when Gobert gets older, and Towns will be paid 50+mil.

2) Gobert and Towns have not elevated each other game yet, instead they kind of have cannibalized each other value as bigmen

It is crazy how perception of this team may vary based on results of coming season. If they fail, we might end up like a team with two top-10 worst contract in the league, no financial flexibility, limited trade flexibility and absolutely non option for free agents. If we succeed we might end up as NBA biggest kept secret.

The new season is gonna be wild!!!

Perhaps the most important regular season since 2004.

[Dewey]

This week I have already two times heard/read that Towns and Gobert are both top-10 worst contracts in NBA

First was this podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bball-index/id1253824635

Second, was BS/BR article
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10083835-predicting-the-nbas-worst-contracts-next-season

I don't agree that neither Gobert nor Towns contracts is top-10 worst contract in NBA. At least not yet. But,

1) I can see situation get worse in 2024-25 when Gobert gets older, and Towns will be paid 50+mil.

2) Gobert and Towns have not elevated each other game yet, instead they kind of have cannibalized each other value as bigmen

It is crazy how perception of this team may vary based on results of coming season. If they fail, we might end up like a team with two top-10 worst contract in the league, no financial flexibility, limited trade flexibility and absolutely non option for free agents. If we succeed we might end up as NBA biggest kept secret.

The new season is gonna be wild!!!

Perhaps the most important regular season since 2004.

These guys are clowns and anoint themselves experts … I don’t like either contract but there are many contracts far worse out there - they don’t need to be max contracts to be bad.

We have what we have and will be in the playoffs. Will see how our chemistry is then and who’s healthy and whose not.

[shrink]

For people that get into the GM side of the team, the latest Dane Moore podcast has some great analysis from a guy from the Genesis Group, taking a look at what types of owners Marc Lore and A-Rod will be, as well as some good perspective on the history of the organization. Highly recommended.

[shrink]

Big fun yahoo article ranks Tim Connelly as the #10 GM in the NBA, and #1 Drafter. You can get full rankings and methodology here

https://sports.yahoo.com/the-danny-ainge-system-using-sabermetrics-to-rate-every-nba-teams-top-executive-222824265.html

1. Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics (2003-2021) • Utah Jazz (2021-)
2. Masai Ujiri, Denver Nuggets (2010-13) • Toronto Raptors (2013-)
3. Brian Wright, San Antonio Spurs (2019-)
4. James Jones, Phoenix Suns (2018-)
5. Kevin Pritchard, Portland Trail Blazers (2007-10) • Indiana Pacers (2017-)
6. Pat Riley, Miami Heat (1995-)
7. Troy Weaver, Detroit Pistons (2020-)
8. Koby Altman, Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-)
9. Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics (2021-)
10. Tim Connelly, Denver Nuggets (2013-22) • Minnesota Timberwolves (2022-)
11. Zach Kleiman, Memphis Grizzlies (2019-)
12. David Griffin, Cleveland Cavaliers (2014-17) • New Orleans Pelicans (2019-)
13. Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder (2007-)
14. Daryl Morey, Houston Rockets (2007-20) • Philadelphia 76ers (2020-)
15. Rob Pelinka, Los Angeles Lakers (2019-)
16. Monte McNair, Sacramento Kings (2020-)
17. Lawrence Frank, Los Angeles Clippers (2017-)
18. Rafael Stone, Houston Rockets (2020-)
19. Jon Horst, Milwaukee Bucks (2017-)
20. Sean Marks, Brooklyn Nets (2016-)
21. Jeff Weltman, Orlando Magic (2017-)
22. Leon Rose, New York Knicks (2020-)
23. Artūras Karnišovas, Chicago Bulls (2020-)
24. Mitch Kupchak, Los Angeles Lakers (2000-17) • Charlotte Hornets (2018-)
25. Nico Harrison, Dallas Mavericks (2021-)

Here’s his transaction history.

10. Tim Connelly, Denver Nuggets (2013-22) • Minnesota Timberwolves (2022-)

Draft picks (OBP: .737 • SLG: 1.429 • OPS: 2.166)

HR: Nikola Jokić (41st, 2014) • Jamal Murray (7th, 2016)

3B: Michael Porter Jr. (14th, 2018)

2B: Gary Harris (19th, 2014) • Jusuf Nurkić (16th, 2014) • Monte Morris (51st, 2017)

1B: Malik Beasley (19th, 2016) • Jarred Vanderbilt (41st, 2018) • Bones Hyland (26th, 2021)

BB: Juan Hernangómez (15th, 2016) • Vlatko Čančar (49th, 2017) • Bol Bol (44th, 2019) • Zeke Nnaji (22nd, 2020) • Josh Minott (45th, 2022)

K: Erick Green (46th, 2013) • Emmanuel Mudiay (7th, 2015) • Tyler Lydon (24th, 2017) • R.J. Hampton (24th, 2020) • Wendell Moore Jr. (26th, 2022)

Trades (OBP: .450 • SLG: .588 • OPS: 1.038)

3B: Aaron Gordon [2021]

2B: Will Barton [2015] • Jerami Grant [2019]

1B: D.J. Augustin [2016] • 2017 R2 (Vlatko Čančar), 2017 R2 (Monte Morris) [2016] • Mike Conley Jr. [2023]

BB: Kosta Koufos [2013] • Jameer Nelson [2015] • Ty Lawson [2015]

K: Jan Veselý [2014] • Arron Afflalo [2014] • JaVale McGee [2015] • 2017 R1 (Donovan Mitchell) [2017] • Jusuf Nurkic [2017] • Roy Hibbert [2017] • Devin Harris [2018] • Isaiah Whitehead [2018] • Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt [2020] • JaVale McGee [2021] • Rudy Gobert [2022]

Free agents (OBP: .625 • SLG: .750 • OPS: 1.375)

2B: Kyle Anderson (2022)

1B: Paul Millsap (2017) • Torrey Craig (2017) • Facu Campazzo (2020) • Jeff Green (2021)

K: J.J. Hickson (2013) • Nate Robinson (2013) • JaMychal Green (2020)

TOTALS ... OBP: .596 • SLG: .923 • OPS: 1.519

[Klomp]

I see a lot of correlations between how he's building this franchise and how he built the Denver Nuggets.

Do you think Paul Millsap played up to his 3/$90 million contract (plus a 1/$10M extension)? He gave Denver 11/6 in 25 mpg in his four years total, topped by averaging 14/6 in his first year. Even by today's CBA standards, most people would view it as excessive if they're only looking at box scores, similar to how people look at the Rudy Gobert trade package and his current contract. But he was part of the driving force of the turnaround in Denver to help take the franchise to the next level.

From there, you look at "fringe" guys on the margins. This is where Tim has really made his mark here, and he did the same in Denver. Here we talk about getting value and production from guys like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Mike Conley Jr., and we are looking at Shake Milton and Troy Brown to continue the trend. Denver got cheap production through the years from guys like Jerami Grant, Monte Morris, Mason Plumlee, etc.