Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Tim Connelly has affirmed the team’s commitment to retaining its core players amidst offseason maneuvers.
The Wolves recently made strategic moves during the 2024 NBA Draft, including selecting Terrence Shannon Jr. at No. 27 and acquiring Rob Dillingham from the San Antonio Spurs.
In this year’s draft, Minnesota aimed to bolster their roster without compromising their foundational players. They prioritized addressing team needs through the acquisition of Dillingham.
Connelly explained their strategy, stating, via Jon Krawczynski, “We don’t want to trade our core guys. It’s pretty simplistic. It’s pretty simplistic. I think we’ve checked a major box that we lacked last year.”
He highlighted Dillingham as a crucial addition, essential for enhancing the team’s offensive capabilities, particularly in generating plays—a facet they sought to strengthen after assessing their options in free agency.
Regarding Dillingham’s role within the team, Connelly expressed confidence in his immediate impact, stressing the importance of selecting players who can contribute right away.
He emphasized Dillingham’s ability to penetrate defenses, accelerate the pace of play, and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Connelly further elaborated, “He’s a guy who, from Day 1, is going to have a role and a responsibility. Certainly it’s going to be hard for him. But I don’t think you’re that aggressive in the top 10 with a guy you don’t think can play right away.”
“We’re looking for guys who can break the paint, can play a little bit faster, who can create for themselves and others and throughout the process, our eyes just kept getting drawn to Rob,” Connelly said.
