Timberwolves president built a title contender ... in Los Angeles

Former Minnesota guard D'Angelo Russell hit three straight three-pointers in the fourth quarter to spark the Lakers' comeback over the Grizzlies in Game 4. He was part of the Lakers' midseason rebuild, where L.A. added three former Minnesota players, including forward Jarred Vanderbilt and shooting guard Malik Beasley, along with Russell.

Since the new players joined the team, the Lakers finished the season 18-8 and now lead their first-round series against Memphis 3-1. Oh, and they defeated Connelly's Wolves in the play-in game.

Connelly swung for the fences right away after Minnesota hired him away from the Denver Nuggets last May. In July, he made a blockbuster deal to acquire center Rudy Gobert, sending five picks and five players to Utah — including Beasley and Vanderbilt.

Who else was in the deal? Patrick Beverley, whom Utah traded to Los Angeles in August. Beverley started 45 games for the Lakers, helping keep their defense respectable. Later, the Lakers flipped him for Mo Bamba.

In Minnesota, Russell and Gobert didn't get along. Russell threw only 13 alley-oops to Gobert in four games and openly complained about his offensive limitations, even during games. That's why Connelly sent Russell to L.A. in a three-team deal that reunited Russell, Vanderbilt and Beasley.

Russell and Beasley have improved L.A.'s three-point shooting, while Vanderbilt has been a useful energy big, bringing hustle and defense to the frontcourt. 

While Russell was draining threes for the Lakers to help force overtime Monday night, Gobert was getting blocked at the rim as Minnesota blew a late 12-point lead and went to OT.

On Tuesday night, the Wolves were officially eliminated from the postseason with a Game 4 loss to the Nuggets, 109-112. Gobert has 16 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.

The Gobert experiment might improve next season as Connelly gets more of his preferred players in place, but so far, the players Connelly got rid of are the ones contributing to a contender — the Lakers — and not the supposed superstar he picked up.