The Minnesota Timberwolves are bringing back Mike Conley after a busy trade deadline
The Minnesota Timberwolves were one of the teams rumored to be in the mix to land Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. In an effort to land the two-time MVP, they traded away Mike Conley and a first-round pick in a three-team deal, opening up cap space to try and land him.
However, the Bucks ended up holding put with Giannis, as he'll remain on the team through the rest of the 2025-26 season. Therefore, the Timberwolves pivoted and made a smaller move to acquire Ayo Dosunmu, filling in the hole left by the departures of Rob Dillingham and Conley.
Timberwolves Bringing Back Conley
With the Timberwolves trading Conley to the Chicago Bulls, it meant that if he were to be bought out by Chicago, he couldn't return to the Timberwolves due to CBA rules. However, Conley was traded again, moving from the Bulls to the Charlotte Hornets and opening up the door to return to Minnesota.
Now, according to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Hornets have released Conley, and he's set to return to Minnesota. A team-favorite and veteran presence in the locker room, Conley has played 44 games with the Timberwolves this season.
In those 44 games, he's earned nine starts and is averaging 4.4 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per contest. A former All-Star and one of the most underrated guards of the 2010s, Conley might not be at the level he used to be, but he still has immense value on this Timberwolves team that will be trying to make a deep playoff run.
Conley's role could be reduced, though, with the play of Bones Hyland this season, as well as Dosunmu coming over from Chicago. But even when Conley has been disappointing from a box score standpoint this season, head coach Chris Finch hasn't steered away from putting the 19-year veteran on the court.
The Timberwolves return to action on Friday night at home against the New Orleans Pelicans, but that is likely far too quick a turnaround to get Conley back on the court. His best shot will likely be against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, if a deal can be finalized before then.
As for the Hornets, who parted ways with Conley, he won't be needed due to their bolstered backcourt after adding Coby White and still having Tre Mann off the bench as well.
So after two trades in two days, Conley ends up back with the Timberwolves, in a position that makes the most sense for him.