Mike Conley Jr.’s wild trade deadline takes him back to Minnesota

With rumors are swirling around the Minnesota Timberwolves after Thursday’s trade deadline, the only player dealt was a guard Mike Conley Jr.; in fact, he was in two transactions. With rumors of Conley returning to the Timberwolvesthose talks proved fruitful, and the veteran is likely to see his way back to the team.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Conley “return plans” in Minnesota, as both sides are “working on timing to re-sign him.”

“Free agent guard Mike Conley Jr. plans to return to Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “The parties are working on timing his re-signing. Conley was traded twice this week — to Chicago, then to Charlotte — before being released and allowed to rejoin the Wolves.”

As mentioned, Conley has seen himself in two trades, the first of which sent him from the Timberwolves to the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team trade with the Detroit Pistons. The Bulls would then trade Conley and Kobe White to the Charlotte Hornets, leading to expectations that the veteran guard would be waived.

The Timberwolves trade of Mike Conley has affected the team

First trade on The Timberwolves trading Conley was undoubtedly a hit for the team, as he has been in Minnesota since being traded in the 2022-23 season from the Utah Jazz. He brought the Timberwolves a steady point guard and veteran impact star Rudy Gobert when the first news broke.

“Mike was a guy that I have a lot of respect for … on the bus this morning, looking over on the bus and seeing an empty seat, it hit me a little bit,” Gobert said, via Christopher Hine .

“Mike was a guy that I have the utmost respect for … on the bus this morning, looking over on the bus and seeing an empty seat, it hit me a little bit.”

Wolves’ Rudy Gobert on Mike Conley trade 🥹

(via @ChristopherHine)pic.twitter.com/dUHb8ZIfSd

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 4, 2026

This season, the 38-year-old averaged 13.7 points, 5.6 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from three-point range. The longtime point guard looks set to rejoin Minnesota as the team is currently 32-20, which puts them in sixth place in the Western Conference, as they take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.