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[Saba Sports News] This season’s success for the Minnesota Timberwolves could ironically precede significant changes. Shams Charania of The Athletic revealed on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back” that Timberwolves president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, has an opt-out clause in his contract post-season. Connelly’s deal was initially aligned with the ownership transition from Glen Taylor to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore. However, recent turmoil in the Timberwolves’ ownership has introduced uncertainty.
Connelly, who joined the Timberwolves in 2022 with a five-year, $40 million contract, previously served as the Denver Nuggets’ president of basketball operations from 2013-2022, where he built the foundation for their 2023 NBA championship team. Although the hiring was sanctioned by Taylor, it was Rodriguez and Lore’s strategic decision to bring Connelly to Minnesota.
On the court, the Timberwolves have excelled, potentially securing the No. 2 seed in the West with 55 wins, their best performance since the 2003-04 season. However, a contentious battle for team control has erupted between Taylor and the Rodriguez-Lore partnership, following Taylor’s sudden announcement in March that their ownership transfer deal was terminated—a move that Rodriguez and Lore strongly contested.
Earlier reports indicated that disagreements over proposed payroll cuts, which could affect Connelly’s management of the team and necessitate decisions about key players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, contributed to the breakdown of the deal. With the potential for further complications, Connelly might choose to exercise his opt-out option and leave the organization amidst the chaos.