Tim Connelly To Leave Nuggets, Take Over Timberwolves’ Basketball Operations

Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly is leaving to take the same position with the Timberwolves, according to multiple reports.

Connelly has agreed to a five-year, $40 million deal with Minnesota, per Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. He met with minority owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore last week, followed by a meeting with majority owner Glen Taylor on Sunday before deciding on the deal.

Connelly has been the head of basketball operations with the Nuggets since 2013, when he replaced current Raptors GM Masai Ujiri. As ESPN’s ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski wrote, Connelly had similar flirtations with the Wizards a couple years ago, but turned down an offer there.

“Connelly has built a reputation as one of the NBA’s best talent evaluators and deal-makers, maintaining strong relationships with top player agents and the respect of his front-office peers,” Wojnarowski wrote.

Connelly took almost two full days before reaching a decision to leave back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets for the Timberwolves, Charania and Krawczynski reported.

Both the Timberwolves and Nuggets are coming off first-round playoff exits.