Timberwolves Major Executive Who Built Nuggets Championship Team Receives More Money After Successful Year

DENVER, COLORADO - Karl-Anthony Towns (#32) reacts during the fourth quarter against Michael Porter Jr. (#1) and Nikola Jokic (#15) of the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 19, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo : Morgan Engel/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Timberwolves are rewarding their top basketball executive after a highly successful season. The team clinched the third seed in the Western Conference and made the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years.

The team will restructure President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly's contract to give him a higher salary.

Connelly will now earn upwards of $15 million annually, according to league insider Shams Charania on FanDuel's "Run It Back" show.

The 48-year-old took over the role for the Timberwolves in 2022, and one of his first major moves was to acquire center Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz.

This move proved crucial as they dethroned the defending NBA champions, Denver Nuggets, in the 2024 NBA Playoffs in the Western Conference Semifinals. 

Read more: New York Knicks Head Coach Tom Thibodeau Expected to Receive Extension at 'Market Rate' - How Much Is It?

Connelly's original contract with the Timberwolves was a five-year, $40 million contract, which paid around $8 million annually. 

Tim Connelly built the Denver Nuggets championship roster

Connelly was a front office executive for the Denver Nuggets from 2013 to 2022, first assuming the role of Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager.

He was promoted to the team's President of Basketball Operations in 2017, and he was mainly responsible for many moves that led to their 2023 NBA Championship roster.

Some of these moves included drafting Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in 2014 and 2016, respectively, and trading for Aaron Gordon in 2021. 

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