Minnesota clears cap space and opens door for potential Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit before Thursday's deadline.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have made their move ahead of the trade deadline, and it sets them up for something much bigger.
Minnesota agreed to a three-team deal on Tuesday that sends veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. to the Chicago Bulls, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
The deal also involves the Detroit Pistons, who will receive Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric from Chicago along with a 2026 first-round protected pick swap from the Timberwolves.
The Bulls will get both Conley and guard Jaden Ivey from Detroit, adding backcourt depth to a team sitting at 24-26 and ninth in the Eastern Conference.
What This Means for Minnesota
The Timberwolves did not receive a player in return, but that was very much the point.
By moving Conley's $10.7 million expiring contract, Minnesota's luxury tax bill reportedly drops from $24 million to $3.8 million, putting the team back under the first apron.
This creates crucial roster flexibility and financial room at a time when the Timberwolves are actively pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Minnesota has been connected to the two-time MVP throughout the past week, with reports indicating the Wolves, Heat, Warriors, and Knicks are the primary suitors for the Bucks superstar.
This trade now gives the Timberwolves more financial flexibility to construct a potential package for Antetokounmpo before Thursday's 3 p.m. deadline.
Conley has averaged just 4.5 points and 2.9 assists per game this season while seeing his role shrink considerably at age 38.
The four-time Sportsmanship Award winner was a beloved locker room presence who helped Minnesota reach consecutive Western Conference Finals, but his on-court production had fallen off significantly in 2025-26.
The Timberwolves currently hold a 31-20 record and sit fifth in the Western Conference.
Minnesota's Cap Picture Looks Much Better
The financial implications of this deal go beyond just luxury tax savings.
Minnesota's space beneath the second apron jumps from $3.5 million to $14 million, giving the front office significantly more room to work with in trade negotiations.
Perhaps more importantly, the Timberwolves now sit $3.5 million beneath the first apron, which removes some major obstacles when it comes to dealing with other apron teams.
Teams above the first apron face restrictions on acquiring players via sign-and-trades and taking back more salary than they send out in deals.
By getting under that threshold, Minnesota has opened up trade pathways that simply were not available before Tuesday's move.
This becomes especially important when you consider the caliber of player the Wolves are chasing and the complexity that a potential Antetokounmpo trade would require.
With the trade deadline looming in less than 48 hours, all eyes will be on Minnesota to see if they can land their big fish in Giannis.