Jokic Praises Connelly's Foresight on Gobert Trade: "Everyone Laughed, But He Saw Something"

 

Ahead of their playoff rematch, Nuggets Star Jokic Tips Cap to Timberwolves' Architect Connelly

As the Denver Nuggets prepare to take on the Tim Connelly-built Minnesota Timberwolves in the postseason for the second consecutive year, star center Nikola Jokic has nothing but praise for his former general manager's bold vision.

Just two seasons removed from when "everybody was laughing" at Connelly's blockbuster Rudy Gobert trade, the Timberwolves have blossomed into a formidable playoff contender. And Jokic, who Connelly selected 41st overall in the 2014 draft, is the first to acknowledge the transformation.

"I think they're built really well," Jokic remarked. "Tim Connelly made a great team, and I think he deserves a lot of credit for doing that."

When Connelly orchestrated the deal that sent multiple players and draft picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for the three-time Defensive Player of the Year, the move was widely panned as an overpay. However, Jokic believes Connelly saw something in Gobert that others didn't.

"Everybody was laughing at him and what he was doing," Jokic said. "But he made a great team."

The Timberwolves' rise has been even more impressive considering they now find themselves on equal footing with Jokic's top-seeded Nuggets. A year ago, Minnesota was merely the No. 8 seed facing Denver in the first round. This time around, the squads are separated by just one regular-season win.

Connelly's savvy roster-building, including his recent deadline acquisition of veteran floor general Mike Conley, has transformed the Timberwolves into a legitimate contender. And as the former Nuggets executive prepares to match wits with his protégé Jokic, the big man can't help but tip his cap to the architect behind his new postseason foe. 

Jokic Wary of Gobert-Led Timberwolves Ahead of Playoff Clash

As Rudy Gobert prepares to claim his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award, Nikola Jokic is fully aware of the challenge his Denver Nuggets will face against Gobert's Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs.

"I think they're a really dangerous team," Jokic said of the Timberwolves. "They can have an answer for everything. Playing small, playing big, they can do it all. So they're a really dangerous team."

Gobert's impending DPOY honor is a testament to the defensive anchor he has become since being acquired by Minnesota in a blockbuster trade engineered by Tim Connelly last summer. The move was widely criticized at the time, but Connelly's bold move has paid dividends, transforming the Timberwolves into a formidable two-way squad.

With Gobert protecting the paint and Minnesota's supporting cast filling out the roster, Jokic knows his Nuggets will have their hands full in the second round. The teams met in last year's playoffs, when Denver was the top seed and Minnesota the eighth. This time around, the squads are much closer in the standings, separated by just one regular-season win.

Jokic, who was drafted by Connelly during his tenure as Nuggets GM, has seen firsthand the impact a dominant defensive presence like Gobert can have. And as the Timberwolves continue to round into form, the reigning MVP is well aware his squad will need to be at its best to fend off the challenge.

"They can do it all," Jokic reiterated. "That's what makes them so dangerous. We'll have to be ready for anything they throw at us."