All those trades only to end up back where he started.
Veteran point guard Mike Conley is reportedly expected to reunite with the Minnesota Timberwolves after he was dealt twice before the NBA trading deadline expired Thursday, Feb. 5, according to ESPN.
It’s a peculiar situation, but because Conley was technically two teams removed from Minnesota, he’s able to return to the Timberwolves. It started Wednesday, Feb. 4, when the Timberwolves packaged Conley in a three-team trade between the Bulls and Pistons. In that deal, Conley ‘went’ to Chicago, which then rerouted him to Charlotte in a separate deal Thursday that also sent Coby White to the Charlotte Hornets for Collin Sexton and three second-round selections.
Conley, though, was used in those deals mostly as a vehicle to move around his $10.7 million salary that he was owed this season. The Hornets had no intention of keeping Conley, so they waived him, which made him a free agent and allows him to explore the open market.
‘Mike’s my guy,’ Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards told reporters Wednesday. ‘He’s like a OG to me. Just a great dude overall. Hopefully we can get him back. I keep hearing he can come back, so hopefully he will and I hope he see this. We want you back, Mike.’
Conley has seen his role reduced significantly and is averaging career lows in minutes (18.5), points (4.4), rebounds (1.8) and assists per game (2.9). Known more for his leadership and command within the locker room, Conley, 38, is seen as a steadying veteran presence in Minnesota.
Conley’s role with the Timberwolves could be further reduced once he returns; Minnesota also made a trade for speedy Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, who just turned 26 and who is averaging 15.0 points and 3.6 assists per game.