Tim Connelly looks forward to a future with Mike Conley on the team.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are a generally young team across their roster, especially with players like Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels leading the charge, but they do have some veterans present on the team as well.
No one is more of a veteran on the team than Mike Conley, who played the 19th season of his NBA career with the Timberwolves in 2025-26.
Conley was primarily a support piece. He played in 54 total games while starting in 15 and while he put up a modest 4.5 points, 2.9 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game, it was his leadership and his character that provided the most value to the team.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) steals the ball from San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) in the first half during game six of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Jesse Johnson-Imagn ImagesConley's Impact
You don't stick around in the league for close to two decades without either having supreme talent or strong character, often a mix of both. Conley's character and his hard-earned wisdom are among his biggest strengths as a veteran and it's those traits that continue to make him an asset for the team.
Those qualities are also why the team is interested in having him back next season, considering that Conley is a universal free agent.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) competes for the ball with San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox (4) in the fourth quarter of game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images“Mike is exactly who we want to be as a player as a professional as a human being, he has a great family. I think he’d love to get to year 20, it’ll be up to him. We always want to have guys like Mike in that room," Tim Connelly, president of basketball operations for the Timberwolves, said.
What Mike Conley Provides
Conley can provide some real guidance to the young stars that are the clear highlights of the organization at this point and while he may not provide breathtaking production on the court, he's still shown that he can get down when it matters most, he had several solid performances in the playoffs and his steadiness was deeply needed.
On top of all of that, Conley would likely come with a small price tag. He was signed to a single-season contract for 2025-26 and paid just over $1.1 million, with a cap hit of just over $725,000. Keeping Conley around isn't just good for morale, but it doesn't cost Minnesota much either and lets the team keep its cap flexibility.
Connelly made it clear that if Conley so desires, the team is prepared to welcome him back in with open arms. Now it seems that the ball is in the 38-year-old's court and if he wants to run it back for another season to make it to a major milestone of season 20, joining rare territory in terms of longevity for NBA players.
