NBA trade update: Veteran guard Mike Conley set for surprising Minnesota Timberwolves reunion after wild deadline journey

After a recent trade, the Minnesota Timberwolves plan to re-sign their veteran guard. ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Mike Conley Jr., a free agency guard, intends to rejoin the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Mike Conley Jr. ended up right where he started after the 2026 NBA trade deadline. To get there, though, he followed a very odd path. Conley is returning, according to sources who spoke to KSTP Sports just days after the team traded him to Chicago. Chicago sent Conley to Charlotte after the Wolves dealt him, then Charlotte waived him on Thursday, allowing him to return.

Mike Conley’s unusual trade journey clears path for Minnesota Timberwolves reunion under NBA rules

Mike Conley, a seasoned point guard, will rejoin the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Conley, a veteran guard who has been a key member of the Timberwolves, was part of a three-team trade that also featured the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls. Then, as part of a package for Coby White, the Bulls sent him to the Charlotte Hornets. After that, Charlotte decided to forego the 2021 NBA All-Star. After that, Charlotte decided to forego the 2021 NBA All-Star. Because the Hornets were his most recent team, he was able to re-sign with the Timberwolves even though he would not have been able to if the Bulls had waived him.

This season, he can return to Minnesota because of the "Andrew Bogut Rule." According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), a team cannot re-acquire a player they dealt away until a year has elapsed; however, this restriction only applies to the team that traded the player most recently prior to the waiver.

Conley will continue to be Minnesota's point guard and Donte DiVincenzo's main backup. Anthony Edwards, a Timberwolves standout, pushed for Conley to return to the team:"Hopefully we can get him back. I don’t really know how it goes, but I keep hearing he can come back, so hopefully he will.

Hopefully he sees this. We want you back, Mike. He know we miss him."According to Chris Finch, head coach of Minnesota, "none of the success" his team has experienced in recent years would have been possible without Conley. Conley is exactly where he was last week, despite a strange few days and a lot of other movement.

Veteran guard Mike Conley expected to boost Timberwolves depth and leadership after likely return

Conley was released and permitted to return to the Wolves after being dealt twice this week, first to the Chicago Bulls and then to the Charlotte Hornets.

The 38-year-old's output has significantly decreased in his fourth season in Minnesota, and he has played less. He has played a career-low 18.5 minutes per game in 44 games this season, averaging 4.4 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 rebounds.Conley continues to give the Timberwolves invaluable senior leadership and extra backcourt depth despite his declining output. By dumping his $10.7 million contract, the Wolves were able to save several million dollars in cap and luxury tax payments. He can still contribute valuable minutes and leadership to any competing squad at the age of 38. Although his return might be postponed until later in the season to further lower the cap hit, the organization will be able to maintain those savings if he signs a prorated veteran minimum contract. Conley would be able to rest until at least February 20 because the team only has four games left before the All-Star break.