Are M-Lo and A-Rod building the best organization in the sordid history of the Minnesota Timberwolves?
Is it possible that the futurist who thinks that "Dune" is a documentary and the former player who alienated his entire previous sport are turning the Woebegone Wolfies into a model organization?
Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, the Wolves' incoming owners, hired Tim Connelly away from the Denver Nuggets at a price point of $40 million. Connelly quickly hired executive Matt Lloyd away from the Orlando Magic, making him the Timberwolves' senior vice president of basketball operations.
Less than nine months ago, the Wolves fired their top basketball executive, Gersson Rosas. In timing and impact, it was of a piece with most of Wolves history — embarrassing, ill-timed and damaging.
Since then, the Wolves have:
- Doubled their regular-season victory total, from 23 in 2020-21 to 46 in 2021-22.
- Watched Anthony Edwards develop into one of the most intriguing young stars in the NBA.
- Won a play-in game and pushed the Memphis Grizzlies, the team with the second-best record in the NBA, to six games in the first round of the playoffs.
- Reinvigorated a dormant fan base.
- Developed a roster so deep that former first-round pick Josh Okogie, who had been a starter, had trouble finding playing time.
- Extended the contract of Chris Finch, one of the most important people in the organization.
- Demonstrated an intent to build the deepest front office in franchise history, led by Connelly, Sachin Gupta and Lloyd, three respected NBA figures.
The Wolves have had stars before. They have employed good coaches before. They have never before built an organization that could claim depth of experience and expertise as a strength.
Roster depth is important. It's also fluid in a league with a salary cap.
What Lore and Rodriguez are demonstrating is an understanding of how wealth can be used as an advantage in the portion of the organization not restricted by a salary cap.