Mike Conley Planning Return to Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves traded Mike Conley to the Chicago Bulls days before the NBA trade deadline hit yesterday, at 2 p.m. CST., which cleared $11 million off the books for 2025-26, and ducked the Wolves under the first apron of the luxury tax.
Less than 48 hours later, Conley was traded again, this time to the Charlotte Hornets, who then bought him out and opened an avenue for his return to Minnesota as an unrestricted free agent.
Minnesota Timberwolves return on deck for Mike Conley
According to reports, there is a lot of interest in Mike Conley on the buyout market, given the leadership and veteran savvy he would bring to any NBA locker room. And if he returns to the Wolves, he will have even less playing time awaiting him, than before he left.
Apparently, that doesn’t matter to Mike, who does indeed plan on returning to Minnesota, now that he is a free agent, according to Shams Charania (ESPN). Conley is expected to return on a much cheaper veteran level minimum contract that will be prorated.
Free agent guard Mike Conley Jr. plans to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. The sides are working on timing of him re-signing. Conley was traded twice this week – to Chicago, then to Charlotte – before being released and allowed to rejoin the Wolves. pic.twitter.com/ht6HVIIqm4
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2026
Mike Conley’s rest of season contract will be pro-rated based on the number of days left in the season. The longer he waits to comeback, the lesser the cap hit.
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) February 6, 2026
This could be relevant for the Wolves while trying to fill the other open roster spot, in addition to Conley.
I think…
As Dane Moore points out, it behooves the Timberwolves to wait just a little bit on signing Conley. As we previously mentioned, he isn’t going to play much at all, after the trade for Ayo Dosunmu.
On the season, Mike is averaging just 4.4 points and 2.9 assists on 18.5 minutes per game. It’s possible we see Conley a bit more in short bursts, come playoff time, but that is still months away.
At 32-20, the MN Timberwolves are currently 6th in the Western Conference. The NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for February 15th. They have just four games until then (NOR, LAC, ATL, and POR).
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