Minnesota Sports Forum

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Fri May 29, 2026 8:19 am My guess is that TC will package #28 with Randle and perhaps other assets in a draft-day trade. Failing that, I see him trading down from #28 for a couple second round picks (one this year and another in a future year). Based on TC’s track record and the nature of this year’s draft, I think it’s highly unlikely TC drafts and keeps the 28th pick.

Monster wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 4:04 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Fri May 29, 2026 8:19 am My guess is that TC will package #28 with Randle and perhaps other assets in a draft-day trade. Failing that, I see him trading down from #28 for a couple second round picks (one this year and another in a future year). Based on TC’s track record and the nature of this year’s draft, I think it’s highly unlikely TC drafts and keeps the 28th pick.

I disagree. I think Connelly's track record shows he is likely to draft someone in this draft. The only year he hasn't picked a player in the first round was 2023 and he traded up to 33 to pick Miller. Connelly has continued to look at adding young talent he isn't just selling out for the now.

BeenLurkin wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 6:01 pm If we keep trading future picks AND not making picks we have available to us the end result of such a lopsided practice….not good. You have to keep taking shots at youth even if they don’t play next year. The argument that Finch doesn’t develop talent is ludicrous. Throwing a kid out there who isn’t ready can ruin their career. Finch demands they play the way he needs them to and holds them to a high standard. That is how you sift the talent from the hype.

Hopefully we draft at 28 as our late first round laden roster shows our ability to build organically by doing so (JADEN, Shannon, Naz)

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 5:28 pm

Monster wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 4:04 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Fri May 29, 2026 8:19 am My guess is that TC will package #28 with Randle and perhaps other assets in a draft-day trade. Failing that, I see him trading down from #28 for a couple second round picks (one this year and another in a future year). Based on TC’s track record and the nature of this year’s draft, I think it’s highly unlikely TC drafts and keeps the 28th pick.

I disagree. I think Connelly's track record shows he is likely to draft someone in this draft. The only year he hasn't picked a player in the first round was 2023 and he traded up to 33 to pick Miller. Connelly has continued to look at adding young talent he isn't just selling out for the now.

You might be right Monster, but Connelly has proven to be a much more adroit operator in trading for vets (both old and young) than making good draft picks. He's also seen enough of how Finch operates now that it will likely be difficult for a rookie to get any meaningful playing time. I tend to lean towards Lip's initial view that the pick will be used in a trade.

60WinTim wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 7:01 pm

BeenLurkin wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 6:01 pm If we keep trading future picks AND not making picks we have available to us the end result of such a lopsided practice….not good. You have to keep taking shots at youth even if they don’t play next year. The argument that Finch doesn’t develop talent is ludicrous. Throwing a kid out there who isn’t ready can ruin their career. Finch demands they play the way he needs them to and holds them to a high standard. That is how you sift the talent from the hype.

Hopefully we draft at 28 as our late first round laden roster shows our ability to build organically by doing so (JADEN, Shannon, Naz)

I wouldn't bet money on it, but I think there is a good chance TC trades back into the 2nd round, and maybe a future 2nd. He can still add a young player to the roster, but the salary will likely be half of what the first rounder would cost. And I am guessing the salaries are gonna be a big deal for TC to navigate this offseason!

Monster wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 7:29 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 5:28 pm

Monster wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 4:04 pm

I disagree. I think Connelly's track record shows he is likely to draft someone in this draft. The only year he hasn't picked a player in the first round was 2023 and he traded up to 33 to pick Miller. Connelly has continued to look at adding young talent he isn't just selling out for the now.

You might be right Monster, but Connelly has proven to be a much more adroit operator in trading for vets (both old and young) than making good draft picks. He's also seen enough of how Finch operates now that it will likely be difficult for a rookie to get any meaningful playing time. I tend to lean towards Lip's initial view that the pick will be used in a trade.

That's a reasonable opinion and it certainly would not surprise me if he traded the pick in a deal. My point was there is not a track record to go off of that suggests Connelly would do that. Is this year's first round draft pick an asset he will consider using to add a vet to the roster? Absolutely.

On the other hand do people think that the guy that less than a year ago drafted 2 centers one that hadn't turned 19 yet and the other 19 that was all potential is gonna suddenly be like you know what we are bad at drafting (despite both of his last 2 picks showing some level of promise) we aren't gonna draft young talent to the roster? I'm pretty sure he still thinks he can find some talent somewhere in the draft. Its there every year. He has made various moves to add draft picks some of which he did cash in for Ayo but had recently turned 26 so is still pretty young.

Connelly's draft record with the Wolves other than one guy in Moore who was drafted as a elite role player type is either drafting high upside guys that are very young or taking guys that fall to him like TSJ or Clark.

The reality is Finch could be like Tim you have drafted a couple guys that can't play. We need you to do your job and get me guys that can play (as long as they are also healthy) and I'll play hell out of them.

Which brings us around to the reality that we all are aware of. This team likely isn't good enough especially with Donte being injured. What's one way you can get better? Drafting a good player or multiple players. Connelly has often found ways to add to his ability to add young players through the draft that might be the answer or part of the answer. Hell I wouldn't be shocked if he traded up in this draft if there is a good enough reason to do so. Yeah he and the Wolves absolutely missed on Dillingham. What if they hit on the next guy?

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 7:57 pm

Monster wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 7:29 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 5:28 pm

You might be right Monster, but Connelly has proven to be a much more adroit operator in trading for vets (both old and young) than making good draft picks. He's also seen enough of how Finch operates now that it will likely be difficult for a rookie to get any meaningful playing time. I tend to lean towards Lip's initial view that the pick will be used in a trade.

That's a reasonable opinion and it certainly would not surprise me if he traded the pick in a deal. My point was there is not a track record to go off of that suggests Connelly would do that. Is this year's first round draft pick an asset he will consider using to add a vet to the roster? Absolutely.

On the other hand do people think that the guy that less than a year ago drafted 2 centers one that hadn't turned 19 yet and the other 19 that was all potential is gonna suddenly be like you know what we are bad at drafting (despite both of his last 2 picks showing some level of promise) we aren't gonna draft young talent to the roster? I'm pretty sure he still thinks he can find some talent somewhere in the draft. Its there every year. He has made various moves to add draft picks some of which he did cash in for Ayo but had recently turned 26 so is still pretty young.

Connelly's draft record with the Wolves other than one guy in Moore who was drafted as a elite role player type is either drafting high upside guys that are very young or taking guys that fall to him like TSJ or Clark.

The reality is Finch could be like Tim you have drafted a couple guys that can't play. We need you to do your job and get me guys that can play (as long as they are also healthy) and I'll play hell out of them.

Which brings us around to the reality that we all are aware of. This team likely isn't good enough especially with Donte being injured. What's one way you can get better? Drafting a good player or multiple players. Connelly has often found ways to add to his ability to add young players through the draft that might be the answer or part of the answer. Hell I wouldn't be shocked if he traded up in this draft if there is a good enough reason to do so. Yeah he and the Wolves absolutely missed on Dillingham. What if they hit on the next guy?

My reference was to TC’s “track record” of not keeping the pick he has going into the draft. He also almost aways trades the team’s picks - typically trading down and sometimes trading his pick for a player as he did with Kessler in the Gobert deal. My point is that it’s highly unlikely that TC will draft and keep #28. I happen to believe that this year the most likely scenario is that TC will simply package #28 in a deal for a veteran, possibly getting a future 2nd round pick back. The second most likely scenario in my view is TC trading #28 for a couple 2nd round picks or maybe one 2nd round pick and cash.

Has TC added any player through the draft who has become a rotation contributor to the Wolves? He’s batting .000 in that department. As most on this Board know, I’m generally an advocate of building through the draft and I agree with Ben that, with our lack of overall draft assets over the next 5 years, it’s important to add young talent to this roster via the draft. But I’m just predicting what TC is likely to do based on both his track record and the team’s situation. He has a track record of wheeling and dealing his pick for other picks. And sadly, TC also has a track record of whiffing on every one of his picks except Kessler (who he traded away) and possibly TSJ. I also think TC will feel a sense of urgency that will incline him to package #28 to get a win-now player. If TC can package #28 with players to get a really good player in his mid 20s then I’d be OK with that.