Timberwolves assistant general manager Tony Ronzone has left the organization after 16 months on the job.

Known for his international scouting connections, he was hired in spring 2010 just about the time Fred Hoiberg headed for Iowa State's coaching job.

Since then, he was involved in negotiations to get Spanish guard Ricky Rubio signed in June and focused on improving the team's international scouting operation. In the two drafts he worked for the team, the Wolves selected three international players with second-round picks.

The Wolves said they and Ronzone mutually agreed to part ways and wished him good luck. Ronzone, who scouted internationally for Dallas when the Mavericks drafted an unknown player from Germany named Dirk Nowitzki, did not return a message seeking comment.

Ronzone and scout Pete Philo provided the team with vast international connections, which they used to draft Serbian forward Nemanja Bjelica and Brazilian big man Paulao Prestes in the 2010 draft's second round.

In June, the team swung a draft-night trade with Portland for a late second-round pick they used to select forward Tanguy Ngombo from Congo. Ngombo listed his age as 21, but FIBA records listed his birth year as 1984, which made him 26 on draft night and ineligible to be selected. The trade went through with Portland after some delay in the NBA office, and the Wolves will retain his draft rights.