The Denver Nuggets' offseason is in full swing, and so is their rivals, the team that sent them home, the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wolves were defeated 4-2 by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the playoffs, likely meaning a retooling is coming for the Timberwolves as well. According to reports, the Timberwolves had their eyes on Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier this year, a move that would have shaken up the West, so one would think they'd be interested now that the season's over, too.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Timberwolves were interested in Giannis at the trade deadline, but obviously, nothing took place. That would have been a major package that totally changed the look of the Timberwolves.
It also gives the appearance on the surface that Tim Connelly, the Timberwolves' president of basketball operations, is tearing down some of the team he built to beat the Nuggets, and focusing on the Spurs, who sent the Timberwolves home, or the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Timberwolves fans have eyes on another superstar
Where the Nuggets are looking at potentially trading a big star to save a bunch of salary to avoid the second apron tax penalties, the Timberwolves seem to be in adding mode. And Timberwolves fans have another target for the franchise to go after if they can't land the Greek Freak, Giannis.
Wolves fans think Tim Connelly should focus his attention on Kawhi Leonard. Just how big of a swing do the Timberwolves plan to take this summer? They're certainly trying to pair Anthony Edwards with a superstar to capitalize on his prime window over the next few years. And they have a nice young, athletic core to try to keep around whatever duo Connelly puts together. They're well-positioned.
Nuggets and Timberwolves have to retool for others now
Connelly started building the Timberwolves to stop Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets the minute he got to Minnesota, knowing the Nuggets would be a force for a few years. He wasn't wrong. The Nuggets won a championship the season after Connelly left for more money.
But now neither team came close to the championship, and they're both going to be forced to rebuild, retool, however you want to look at it, for the Thunder and the Spurs.
Both the Thunder and the Spurs are young, athletic, and they play impeccable defense. They're the new targets for the Nuggets and the rest of the NBA. The problem for the Nuggets is that they're going to have a difficult time retooling because of their salary issues this coming year. And that's why they're looking to shed a star, as the Wolves may be looking to add.
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