On Tuesday, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded Mike Conley to the Chicago Bulls, along with a 2026 first-round protected-pick swap to the Detroit Pistons, in a deal that also saw Jaden Ivey head to Chicago,
with Kevin Huerter and Dario Šarić going to the Pistons.
Conley came to the Wolves at the trade deadline three years ago in a trade that became one of, if not the greatest, trades in Timberwolves history when they traded D’Angelo Russell to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Conley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and three second-round picks.
At the time of the trade, the Timberwolves as a franchise were in a difficult spot. The trade for Rudy Gobert the previous offseason was not working. The fit between Gobert, Russell, and Karl-Anthony Towns had far from blossomed as the Wolves sat with a 29-28 record, in danger of missing the playoffs after trading away four first-round picks.
Mike came in and changed everything. His leadership in the locker room was invaluable for a young Timberwolves team, and his time playing alongside Gobert with the Utah Jazz made the two perfect playing partners as their empty-side pick-and-roll became a staple of the Wolves’ offense.
The Wolves went on to make the playoffs that season and started the next one 20-5, including the most wins in a single month in Wolves history in November of 2023. That season culminated in a second-round playoff series against the defending champion Denver Nuggets, where a Conley steal setup of Game 7 dagger by Anthony Edwards.
With Conley as the starting point guard, the Timberwolves made the playoffs in all three seasons, including back-to-back runs to the Western Conference Finals, an unprecedented level of success for the franchise.
In the trade, the Timberwolves only received cash considerations, as it appears the purpose of the move for the Wolves was to create further financial and trade flexibility. The Wolves now sit below the first apron, which, among other things, allows them to receive more money in a trade than they send out.
The added flexibility aids the Wolves in their ability to improve their roster, including their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who appears to be interested in playing in Minnesota. With two days left until the NBA’s trade deadline, there is still a lot of time
Until then, all of us, I’m sure, will be glued to our phones to see what move comes next.
