The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired Mike Conley from the Utah Jazz during the 2022-23 season, looking to turn D'Angelo Russell's inconsistencies into a steady veteran leader. They landed Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the deal as a result, a trade that gave them two key pieces to their team.

Last season, Conley started in 64 of his 71 appearances, shooting 41.0% from three-point range and averaging 8.2 points and 4.5 assists per game. However, he's regressed significantly since then, starting in just nine of 43 games this season, but he's still making a difference even if the numbers don't show it.

The Timberwolves took care of business on Saturday night, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 131-114 on the road, a game that meant a lot to Conley to return to face a team he spent the majority of his career with after being drafted fourth overall in 2007.

Conley finished the night with zero points but had three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks, tying the team-high with a +18 plus-minus. After the game, head coach Chris Finch was asked about Conley and the value he brings, even though it doesn't show up in the box score.

"First of all, super smart. Defensively, he covers a lot of ground. He's really good on his guy. He's really good with the game plan. He's great in help situations. He's great navigating chaos when those moments come up...," Finch said.

Nobody in Minnesota is denying that Conley has regressed, but it's more about adapting to the situation and finding other ways for him to be effective. He's certainly not the borderline All-Star talent he was once, with Bones Hyland making up for the offensive production in his place.

But, on a team that is aiming to reach its ceiling and finally get past the Western Conference Finals, having a veteran like Conley matters in those situations, especially when Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles are the only other veterans on the team.

"At the other end of the floor, he hasn't made shots, but he's not really getting a high volume, number of shots. He's just such a safe pair of hands," he added.

The NBA trade deadline is rapidly approaching, with the deadline being February 5th. The Timberwolves could be looking to move off Rob Dillingham, a player who was expected to take minutes away from Conley after being a Top 10 pick in the 2024 Draft.

Unless the Timberwolves make a big move and need Conley's salary, it seems as though the veteran is staying put.