Mike Conley Jr. is set to make his return to the Minnesota Timberwolves after a whirlwind trade journey this week. The seasoned NBA veteran, who is 38 years old, was traded twice and subsequently waived but is now finalizing plans to re-sign with the Timberwolves.
Conley’s journey began when he was part of a three-team trade that sent him from Minnesota to the Chicago Bulls. This trade also included Kevin Huerter and Dario Šarić heading to the Detroit Pistons, while the Pistons received a protected first-round swap with Minnesota and Jaden Ivey moved to the Bulls. Just a day later, Conley was traded again to the Charlotte Hornets alongside Coby White in a deal that brought Collin Sexton and three second-round picks to Chicago. The Bulls, as well as the Hornets, didn’t have plans to retain Conley and his salary of $10.7 million for the 2025-26 season.
However, due to the nature of the trades, the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement allows Conley to return to the Timberwolves since he was dealt a second time before being waived. This will mark his fourth season with Minnesota, where he will rejoin a team that recently acquired Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips as part of another deadline deal involving Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and additional draft picks.
Before being traded, Conley averaged 4.4 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in 44 games this season, marred by back spasms and tendinopathy in his right Achilles. Over his extensive career, which spans 19 seasons in the NBA, Conley has played 12 seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and four with the Utah Jazz, averaging 13.7 points and 5.6 assists along with a 39% shooting rate from beyond the arc.
Currently, the Timberwolves hold a strong 32-20 record and sit in sixth place in the Western Conference, providing a promising backdrop for Conley’s return to the team. The Timberwolves and Conley are now looking forward to solidifying their partnership and igniting a successful remainder of the season.