38-year-old veteran guard heading back after being traded twice and waived; sides working on re-signing timing following Chicago and Charlotte detours
Mike Conley Jr. is coming home. The veteran point guard plans to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves as a free agent, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania. The sides are working on the specific timing of his re-signing, but the reunion appears inevitable after a deadline journey that saw Conley traded twice in three days before landing back in Minnesota’s orbit.
The path to his return was unconventional. Conley began the week as a member of the Timberwolves before being traded to Chicago as part of a three-team deadline deal. The Bulls, however, had no intention of keeping him they quickly flipped him to Charlotte in a separate move before the deadline closed. The Hornets then elected to waive the 38-year-old, a decision that triggered a crucial free agency loophole: because Conley was traded a second time before being waived, he became free to sign with any team, including Minnesota.
This mechanical reality allowed the Timberwolves to essentially get a second chance with a player they had already moved. Rather than being locked into a long-term commitment or salary cap obligation, Minnesota gets Conley back on a fresh free agent agreement a beneficial outcome for both parties after the deadline shuffle created temporary separation.
The Veteran Presence
Conley represents something increasingly valuable in modern basketball: steady veteran leadership and positional stability. In 19 NBA seasons, the 38-year-old has been a reliable floor general, quarterbacking offenses with intelligence and decision-making polish that comes from decades of experience. He’s never been the flashiest player or highest scorer, but he’s consistently been the guy who makes teams function smoothly at the point guard position.
His role with Minnesota reflects this veteran archetype. Starting nine of the 44 games he’s appeared in this season, Conley has averaged career lows of 4.4 points and 2.9 assists statistical evidence that his physical tools have declined from their peak. He’s no longer the primary scoring threat or playmaking engine he once was. Instead, he’s a supporting piece, someone who provides positional depth and ensures the offense doesn’t suffer when the primary ball handlers need rest or when matchups require adjustments.
That limited role is crucial context. The Timberwolves aren’t bringing Conley back as a centerpiece they’re bringing him back as a stabilizing force, the kind of veteran who’s seen every defensive scheme, every clutch situation, and every moment the game throws at you. His mere presence in the locker room and on the sideline provides value that statistics don’t capture.
The Deadline Mechanics
The path back to Minnesota highlights the complexity of NBA roster construction at the deadline. Teams often make trades not for immediate benefit but for cap flexibility, asset rearrangement, or to clear roster spots for other moves. Conley’s journey from Wolves to Bulls to Hornets to waived to free agent exemplifies how deadline chaos can create unexpected outcomes.
For Minnesota, the ability to re-acquire Conley without the salary cap punishment they initially faced makes this an upgrade on the earlier deadline situation. They get a veteran back without the long-term contract implications. For Conley, the journey, while chaotic, ultimately leads back to familiarity and a team that clearly values his presence.
The Veteran’s Twilight
At 38 years old, Conley is in the twilight of his career. His declining production numbers the career lows in points and assists reflect the physical reality of aging in professional sports. Yet his return to Minnesota acknowledges that age doesn’t diminish the value of experience, intelligence, and the kind of calm presence veteran point guards provide.
The Timberwolves’ decision to bring him back after the deadline chaos suggests they recognized his value both before and after his brief departures. Whether his formal re-signing happens immediately or in the coming days, the outcome is clear: Conley and the Timberwolves are reuniting, and a 19-year veteran is staying in a uniform that fits.
