As Glen Taylor and Alex Rodriguez quarrel over ownership of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the domino effect could have larger ramifications than previously imagined.
“If (Taylor) keeps the team,” Dan Le Batard reports on his eponymous podcast, “what’s going to happen after that is they’re going to lose their team president, Tim Connelly.”
“(Connelly’s) going to leave because he signed a long-term deal with the (Rodriguez) team,” Le Batard continues. “I believe it’s contingent on (Rodriguez) being the owner. I think everybody thought that (Rodriguez) was going to be the owner of that time.
And if (Connelly) leaves, the next step on that is Anthony Edwards possibly wanting to leave…”
Timberwolves Franchise Star Anthony Edwards Could Request Trade
The Timberwolves’ protracted ownership dispute is sure to have ramifications. Whether it results in Connelly and Anthony Edwards leaving as Le Batard suggests obviously remains to be seen. Nonetheless, the idea that both would leave the Timberwolves in order to distance themselves from Taylor isn’t far-fetched.
The 83-year-old business magnate truly is considered one of the worst owners in major sports, let alone the NBA. Since Taylor became the majority owner in 1994, Minnesota has went 1,042-1,342. Their 13-year playoff drought— from 2005 to 2017 —is the third-longest in NBA history.
Of course, coaches and players are the ones who are the faces of a win-loss record. Yet, it’s the owner’s job to hire lead executives. Those executives hire the coaches and acquire players, often with input from ownership. Therefore, the Timberwolves’ ineptitude trickled down from the top; from Taylor’s throne.
If Connelly were to stay on even if Taylor retained ownership, the calculus would be different. The Maryland native has proven himself to be among the best decision-makers in all of sports. More to the point, as the architect of the Denver Nuggets’ title-winning core and now the Timberwolves’ perennial playoff contender, players like Edwards would have faith in him.
If Connelly leaves, there’s a chance that the Timberwolves could hire someone as good as him or better. Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst was floated as a potential candidate for the Detroit Pistons’ presidency this offseason. Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr could be headed for an executive role as their dynasty comes to an end.
However, rolling the dice on those hypotheticals likely may not be as appealing as requesting a trade. As arguably the next face of the NBA, all Edwards has to do is say the word and he’ll have a couple dozen trade suitors.
A New Big Three In Miami?
Due to his youth and confidence, Edwards may not look to leave the Timberwolves. After all, he’s the face of the franchise. Even if Taylor stays and Connelly leaves, he might want to put the team on his back and win a ring in Minnesota.
Yet, the appeal of the Miami Heat is real. Over the past couple of seasons, several stars have tried to make their way to Miami. Damian Lillard wanted the Portland Trail Blazers to trade him to the Heat. Kyrie Irving had the Heat on a shortlist of trade destinations. If Miami had the money, DeMar DeRozan might be playing for them rather than the Sacramento Kings.
Of course, the Heat have struck out on each of those stars, for one reason or another. If Edwards wants to play for Miami, Heat president Pat Riley might do everything short of moving heaven and earth to make it happen though. A Big Three of Edwards, Bam Adebayo, and Jimmy Butler would be Miami’s best since their Heatle days.
Led by Edwards, Adebayo, and Butler, the Heat could very win their first championship since 2013. Riley could ride off into the South Beach sunset. And all because Taylor didn’t want to let the Timberwolves go once he saw them becoming successful.
