New NBA Rumors on Mavs' Pursuit of T-Wolves' Tim Connelly to Replace Nico Harrison

The Minnesota Timberwolves could block the Dallas Mavericks from speaking to one of their top candidates to replace former general manager Nico Harrison.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported Friday "there has been a growing resignation in Dallas that permission to speak with the Wolves' Tim Connelly in search of a new head of basketball operations is unlikely to be granted."

Connelly has served as the Timberwolves' president of basketball operations since May 2022.

HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported Wednesday the Timberwolves "have expressed interest in extending Connelly as their lead executive for the foreseeable future."

Connelly currently has one year remaining on his Timberwolves contract, per The Athletic's Christian Clark.

Before joining the Timberwolves, Connelly worked in the Denver Nuggets' front office for nine seasons.

He selected three-time MVP Nikola Jokić in the second round of the 2014 draft, then later drafted Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. before trading for Aaron Gordon to round out the roster that won a title in 2023.

Connelly's biggest moves during his tenure in Minnesota were initially extending Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle.

He also brought in Donte DiVincenzo and Ayo Dosunmu, who both ended up being key pieces on a roster that advanced to the second round of the 2026 playoffs with a Game 6 win over the Nuggets on Thursday night.

Despite missing DiVincenzo, Dosunmu and Anthony Edwards to injury, that team proved deep enough to secure Thursday night's series-clinching win over Jokić and the Nuggets.

Both Stein and Scotto reported the Wolves had interest in keeping Connelly prior to the Game 6 win, but getting one step closer to a third straight trip to the Western Conference Finals could have further secured his position in Minnesota.

That could mean the Mavericks will need to keep searching for a replacement for Harrison, who parted ways with the organization last November less than a year after trading Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis.

The Mavs have since traded Davis and are looking for an executive who can help the franchise rebuild around Cooper Flagg and another lottery pick from the 2026 NBA draft.

Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont has also been connected to an interest in the Oklahoma City Thunder's Sam Presti, Boston Celtics' Brad Stevens and Cleveland Cavaliers' Koby Altman amid his search for Harrison's replacement Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix reported in March.

Given that the Timberwolves, Thunder, Celtics and Cavaliers all remain alive in the playoffs, Dumont and the Mavs may need to wait until later this spring to iron out final candidates. The franchise could be hoping to land a new front office leader before the 2026 NBA draft starts on June 23 in Brooklyn.