The Minnesota Timberwolves are hiring Denver Nuggets executive Tim Connelly as their new president of basketball operations, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The two sides agreed to a five-year deal worth $40M.
In addition to his contract, Connelly will receive ownership equity in the team, according to Wojnarowski. Connelly will replace Sachin Gupta as Minnesota’s top decision-maker. Gupta was on an interim role since the Wolves parted ways with executive Gersson Rosas.
Connelly is regarded as one of the best executives in the NBA, particularly when it comes to talent evaluation. He was instrumental in drafting two-time MVP Nikola Jokić with the 41st pick of the 2014 NBA Draft.
Connelly becomes the second executive to leave Denver in the last nine seasons. He previously took on the role in 2013, when Masai Ujiri left the Nuggets for the Raptors. Connelly will join a team that made the playoffs last season.
Minnesota, which is poised to undergo an ownership change in 2023, boasts a talented young core, led by 2020 No. 1 pick Anthony Edwards and All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns.
Denver made a bid to keep Connelly that would've moved him into one of the better paid league executives, sources said, but the ownership equity with Minnesota is life-changing money — something only a very few executives have in their deals. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 23, 2022
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