Tim Connelly has been quiet, too quiet.
The Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations has remained in the background — as he likes to do — watching as his team has gotten off to an uninspired 15-9 start. There was a time this would have been cause for celebration, but not for these Wolves. This is a franchise that has been to back-to-back Western Conference finals and is led by one of the NBA’s elite players in Anthony Edwards.
It’s also led by an executive who is never afraid to make an impact move. Connelly acquired Rudy Gobert from Utah in a shocking deal in July 2022; worked a three-team trade to get Mike Conley from the Jazz in February 2023; and sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo just before training camp opened in 2024.
The question isn’t if Connelly will make an impactful trade this season but, rather, when will it happen?
The leading position for an upgrade is at point guard. Conley’s acquisition came because of his ability to organize an offense, but the 38-year-old is in his 19th season and has started only five of the 24 games, averaging a career-low 19.1 minutes per game.
Edwards often has been asked to run the offense, and it’s fair to wonder if that’s the ideal role for him – especially in the playoffs. Connelly and coach Chris Finch’s hope was that second-year guard Rob Dillingham would be able to play an increased role this season, but he’s averaging only 3.7 points and two assists in 10.1 minutes per game.
Connelly traded up to get Dillingham with the eighth pick of the 2024 draft, but the Wolves aren’t in a position to give him big minutes and develop a player at such an important position. On Monday, Finch elected to sit Dillingahm and went to veteran Bones Hyland. Hyland hadn’t played since Nov. 19, but he provided a much-needed spark off the bench.
Hyland hit on five-of-eight shots from the field and four-of-six from three-point range to finish with 14 points in 16 minutes. He also had three assists, but turned over the ball three times.
“I thought it was time to try something different. He’s been patient,” Finch said of the move to Hyland. “He’s been playing really well in practice, doing everything we ask him to do. We need a spark there.”