Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore Tighten Grip on Timberwolves, Prioritize Keeping Tim Connelly

Key facts

• Tim Connelly is signed through the 2026-27 season on a $40 million deal he signed in 2022.
• Dallas Mavericks have agreed to hire Masai Ujiri as team president, ending their pursuit of Connelly.
• Assistant general manager Matt Lloyd is a strong candidate for the Chicago Bulls' GM job.
• Lead assistant coach Micah Nori could follow Lloyd to Chicago as head coach.
• The Timberwolves signed Julius Randle and Naz Reid to contract extensions in the offseason.
• Minnesota traded Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks for Ayo Dosunmu.
• The Wolves reached the Western Conference Finals in 2025 before losing Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

The Mavericks' Pursuit Fizzles

interest in Tim Connelly has evaporated. Instead of luring the Minnesota Timberwolves' president of basketball operations, Dallas has agreed to hire former Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri as team president and alternate governor. after NBA insider Marc Stein indicated that the chances of Dallas connecting with Connelly were fading.

Owners Double Down on Stability

Minnesota owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are clearly tightening control over the team's front office. They are determined to keep Connelly, who has been instrumental in building the current roster. The owners' commitment to roster integrity was evident at the trade deadline, when they chose not to break up the core for Giannis Antetokounmpo, instead trading Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks for guard Ayo Dosunmu.

Potential Front Office Shuffle

The Timberwolves face the possibility of losing assistant general manager Matt Lloyd, who is a strong candidate for the Chicago Bulls' GM job. If Lloyd departs, lead assistant coach Micah Nori could follow him to Chicago as the Bulls' 22nd head coach. Such losses would test the cohesion that Lore and Rodriguez have prioritized.

Roster Moves Signal Long-Term Thinking

During the offseason, Minnesota signed Julius Randle and Naz Reid to contract extensions, locking in key pieces. The only departure from the 2025 Western Conference Finals team was Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The Wolves' strategy mirrors the sustained success Rodriguez experienced with the New York Yankees, emphasizing continuity over short-term gains.

Connelly's Contract Situation

Connelly is signed only through the 2026-27 season, having opted into the final two years of his original $40 million deal signed in 2022. With his contract winding down, extending Connelly may be the Timberwolves' next priority. Keeping him aligns with the owners' vision of maintaining the brain trust that built the roster around Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, drafted in 2020 under former president Gersson Rosas.

The bottom line

• The Dallas Mavericks have ended their pursuit of Tim Connelly by hiring Masai Ujiri.
• Timberwolves owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are committed to keeping Connelly to preserve front office stability.
• Minnesota faces potential losses of assistant GM Matt Lloyd and assistant coach Micah Nori to Chicago.
• The Wolves prioritized roster continuity by signing extensions for Randle and Reid and avoiding major trades.
• Connelly's contract runs through 2026-27, making an extension a likely next step.
• The team's approach mirrors the long-term success model Rodriguez experienced with the Yankees.