Timberwolves’ Tim Connelly Among Possible Candidates For Pistons’ President Vacancy

The Minnesota Timberwolves were the first team to advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs, and yet reports suggest their head of basketball operations could move on.

That would be none other than Tim Connelly, who left the Denver Nuggets a few seasons back to dance with the Wolves. One such report, from Marc Stein of The Stein Line, also said that the Detroit Pistons would have interest in Connelly should he exercise the opt-out in his contract.

So why would Connelly leave the Timberwolves, an up-and-coming team, for a rebuilding situation like the Pistons? Well, because there’s a bit of an ownership dispute going on in Minnesota — involving majority owner Glen Taylor and minority owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore. 

In other words, while things are going well on the court, it may be a bit of a mess at the top.

As for the Pistons, it’s pretty much been a mess everywhere, given how they set an NBA record with 28 straight losses this season. 

Stein cited Milwaukee Bucks GM Jon Horst, former NBA shooting guard JJ Redick and ex-Utah Jazz executive Dennis Lindsey as other potential candidates. (Pistons chairman Arn Tellem represented Redick when Tellem was an agent and Redick a player.)

Whoever does get the gig is expected to have the authority to decide whether current president of basketball operations Troy Weaver remains with the team. The same perhaps goes for Pistons coach Monty Williams, who signed a six-year contract worth nearly $80 million before the start of the season.