Tim Connelly Interview

[Lipoli390]

Great job highlighting some of the conversation, mjs!

I will also add the topic of the owners came up, and also the looming tax problems in 2024. It sure sounded like the luxury tax was something the Wolves will entertain if the team is playing well. I liked what I heard (there was no reference to "the 2nd apron" - my assumption would be nobody is going past that threshold!).

I had the same take-away, Tim. If the team looks like a true championship contender by the end of the season, then TC’s comments indicate ownership will be willing to pay the luxury tax but no say they’ll be willing to go over the second apron. That makes sense. We have owners willing to pay a premium to win. However, the transactional restrictions make it impossible to justify going above the second apron until perhaps you’re team was last season’s NBA champion or at least in last year’s NBA finals.

[Lipoli390]

Lip broke down a lot of things in this interview and some good stuff there.

I thought Connelly’s response to the question about basically players dictating to organizations what they wanted was interesting. Connelly talked about having relationships with the players and that was important to him and not just treating them as assets but actual people. He said you need to have burgers and beer with guys sometimes. When pushed again about the subject he said emphatically “It can’t happen” and said no one person should be putting themselves at the forefront of the organization. No player no coach no front office person etc.

Yes, that comment stood out to me as well.

I really liked the accountability tone and substance of TC’s remarks. I still think the Rudy deal was incredibly dumb but I liked his overall philosophy and emphasis on accountability. I liked how direct he was about what I’d call his disgust with the immaturity of a number of our players. Regarding the Rudy trade, it’s clear he’s still committed to following through for at least one more season but the things TC said made it equally clear he won’t be shy about moving Rudy or KAT if the deal doesn’t pan out this next season.

It was also interesting to hear TC say that the message about being more mature and to stop with the petulant haranguing of referees has been stressed with the players since the beginning of last season. I got the sense that while TC stressed patience, he’s growing impatient with the whining and overall immaturity on this team. And while he stressed that it’s not just KAT, it sure applies in spades to Mr. Towns.

Another thing that stood out, in addition to his comments on the team’s immaturity and the need for accountability and higher expectations, was his emphasis on patience and continuity. He mention those two things several times pretty emphatically. So TC will be patient with player development. But I’m not sure how much longer he’ll be patient with what immaturity and what he referred to as petulant behavior.

Finally, what came though loud and clear is that TC LOVES Finch and the coaching staff. TC would mention how he really liked the players and then he’s use the word “love” in reference to Finch and the coaching staff.

[Q-is-here]

Ha, thanks to Lip I don't even need to listed to the interview now. Thanks for the detailed breakdown Lip!

I agree with TC. When you go out and have a number of impressive, gutsy road wins and then lose at home to the likes of Orlando or Washington or Charlotte, it's like WTF is wrong with this team!? Hard to put a finger on it other than lack of seriousness and maturity.

And as much as we all love Ant, he is part of the problem too. His effort and energy level along with defensive awareness can wax and wane. It's great that he can rise to the occasion in the playoffs, but those unsexy weeknight games in the dog days of the season really matter.

Of course the difference with Ant and KAT is age and experience. We're all willing to give Ant some rope given his age and progress. But that doesn't last forever, just like it didn't with KAT after his first couple years.

[Carlos Danger]

Great break down Lip - thanks. Wasn't sure when I'd get to the podcast, but your cliff notes gives me enough to understand. Appreciate you!

[Lipoli390]

Ha, thanks to Lip I don't even need to listed to the interview now. Thanks for the detailed breakdown Lip!

I agree with TC. When you go out and have a number of impressive, gutsy road wins and then lose at home to the likes of Orlando or Washington or Charlotte, it's like WTF is wrong with this team!? Hard to put a finger on it other than lack of seriousness and maturity.

And as much as we all love Ant, he is part of the problem too. His effort and energy level along with defensive awareness can wax and wane. It's great that he can rise to the occasion in the playoffs, but those unsexy weeknight games in the dog days of the season really matter.

Of course the difference with Ant and KAT is age and experience. We're all willing to give Ant some rope given his age and progress. But that doesn't last forever, just like it didn't with KAT after his first couple years.

Yep. That’s why I thought it was appropriate and honest for TC to be crystal clear that his comments about lack of maturity and seriousness applied to the entire team, not just KAT. And as I suggested earlier, I think TC’s comments were probably aimed more at Ant and Jaden than KAT because they’re the team’s future and as young players this is the time for them to develop the right attitude and good habits. I’m a huge Ant fan, but it’s not just the fact that his effort can wax and wane. It particularly troublesome to me that, in addition to displaying inconsistent effort, he came to camp so out of shape after admittedly eating a crap diet. And as much as I like what TC had to say in his interview, our front office and coaching staff share the blame for Ant’s lack of conditioning last Fall. When it comes to a culture of accountability, I’m far more interested in actions and results than in hearing TC say the right things.

[Lipoli390]

Some other things about TC’s comments on this year’s draft. After saying he didn’t expect to trade into the first round, he went on to refer to seeing who they can get at #53. Noteworthy to me was his tone, which struck me really dismissive - in that he’s not really interested in or expecting much if anything from that pick. I won’t be surprised if he ends up trading that pick for a further second rounder. TC expounded that we still have what he called really good picks from last year in Minott and Moore. He said development is really opportunity and that he’s looking for them to have more opportunity next season. That comment, in my view, further confirms the likely departure of Nowell, Rivers and even Naz. Even if the Wolves re-sign NAW, the departure of Nowell and Rivers should give Moore more opportunity. Naz leaving would certainly open up more opportunity for Minott.

[Sundog]

I know folks here disagree with me, but I think Prince is the odd wing out, to make roster/salary/minutes space for Naz, Minott, Moore, NAW. It’d be a loss though, but something has to give.

[Monster]

Some other things about TC’s comments on this year’s draft. After saying he didn’t expect to trade into the first round, he went on to refer to seeing who they can get at #53. Noteworthy to me was his tone, which struck me really dismissive - in that he’s not really interested in or expecting much if anything from that pick. I won’t be surprised if he ends up trading that pick for a further second rounder. TC expounded that we still have what he called really good picks from last year in Minott and Moore. He said development is really opportunity and that he’s looking for them to have more opportunity next season. That comment, in my view, further confirms the likely departure of Nowell, Rivers and even Naz. Even if the Wolves re-sign NAW, the departure of Nowell and Rivers should give Moore more opportunity. Naz leaving would certainly open up more opportunity for Minott.

Lip I didn’t get the same dismissive thoughts about the draft from Connelly. Remember he also said he LOVES scouting. Keep in mind the question he was answering was it here was anything cooking to get into the 1st round not commenting on what awesome things he was gonna do picking guys in the 2nd round. Having said that It would not surprise me if he did move 53 for a future pick because because of 2 forfeited picks there is 6 picks left. 53 is a perfect spot for someone to take an international player and hold their rights like they did with Spagnolo last year. Of course it’s also possible to find a solid player in that spot although unlikely.

Unless I forgot something Naz was not mentioned at all in this interview which I don’t think means anything. I thought Dan asked a lot of good questions and they covered a lot of topics.

I thought it was interesting that Connelly made it sound like they were looking at adding a couple FA with certain skill sets and he mentioned stuff about those guys having a certain presence. It seems likely they are gonna be guys that are some sort of vet players. I’ll agree it sure seems Nowell is gone but I don’t think that’s too surprising to anyone.

[FNG]

I know folks here disagree with me, but I think Prince is the odd wing out, to make roster/salary/minutes space for Naz, Minott, Moore, NAW. It’d be a loss though, but something has to give.

I'm starting to come around to that thinking also, Sundog. Taurean impressed me last season in the games where he got hot beyond the arc, but I really don't think his overall season was very good...not surprising he had a VORP of -.3. NAW has his flaws, but I think TC has to look at Prince/NAW as redundant...and I lean toward NAW.

[Monster]

I know folks here disagree with me, but I think Prince is the odd wing out, to make roster/salary/minutes space for Naz, Minott, Moore, NAW. It’d be a loss though, but something has to give.

Prince is basically a fringe starter/good rotation level player. The only way he won’t be here is if he gets traded. None of those perimeter guys you mentioned have proven to be sure rotation guys (or some of them even NBAplayers) and even if NAW was I’d feel better about him playing more as a guard than a forward. In addition Prince is a guy making a decent chunk of salary (expiring too) which may be needed if they decided to make some sort of trade in season. Knight is a guy that should be concerned about his roster spot. The Wolves have plenty of ways to have open roster spots without letting go of a good player like Prince…plus they need his shooting. I’m cool with trading him for value though partly because of his inability to stay healthy. He also had some absolute brain farts near or at the end of games last year.