Tim Connelly ‘Pretty Committed’ to Wolves Amidst Wizards GM Rumors

May 8, 2023

For the second time, no, president of basketball operations Tim Connelly doesn’t intend to leave the Timberwolves. We think.

At least, that’s the message he keeps sending after repeatedly being linked to the Wizards’ general manager vacancy.

Connelly has spent just one season with Minnesota after coming over from the Nuggets. So what makes people think he may be a candidate in DC?

Well, for starters, he’s originally from Baltimore and went to college at Catholic University in Washington.

Connelly has already (sort of) shot down the talk once, at a press conference. Now, he did it again during an interview with Chad Hartman of WCCO, via Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

“I’m just totally focused on the Timberwolves,” Connelly said. “Trying to get us better. We didn’t do better than last year, so we have to figure out how to make this team better. Just left the office watching draft videos. So, all eyes are on the Timberwolves and how we can make this team better. Hopefully, next time we have this conversation it won’t be this early in the season.”

Nonetheless, until the Wizards actually hire somebody else, we are likely to hear more of the same about Connelly and his rumored candidacy.

And a lot of people probably won’t believe he’s staying with the Timberwolves until next season starts. (For instance, the headline on the Star Tribune piece read that Connelly “doesn’t commit to staying.”)

Still, Connelly is saying mostly all the right things.

“I’m pretty committed to the Minnesota Timberwolves right now,” Connelly said last month, via Hine. “It’s been a long, long time since we got out of the first round. I think (coach Chris Finch) and I are pretty excited. Meeting with the guys, we’re really excited about the foundation pieces we have here, and just keep building.”

The Wizards are looking to replace Tommy Sheppard, fired at the end of the season. Former Georgetown coach John Thompson III, now a member of the Wizards’ front office, is said to be leading the search.