Mike Conley Jr. endured a chaotic stretch around February’s trade deadline, getting dealt from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team trade involving the Detroit Pistons. He was moved again to the Charlotte Hornets the following day, then waived, and eventually re-signed with the Timberwolves.
That uncertainty has carried into the present, with Conley’s role diminishing significantly after head coach Chris Finch removed him from the rotation entirely.
Chris Finch on the Difficult Decision to Bench Mike Conley
Conley is not the player he once was, but he’s one of the most respected veterans in the league and is a great locker room presence. That’s why it was a bit surprising to see the Wolves move on from the veteran for nothing but cap relief.
Although they managed to bring him back, Conley’s playing time has continued to decline. The 38-year-old last played double-digit minutes on February 22 against the Philadelphia 76ers and has appeared in just two more games since, totaling 10 minutes, a situation that has not been easy for the Wolves’ head coach.
“It’s been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in coaching, to be honest with you,” he told reporters. “Particularly with who he is as a person and a professional, and everything that he’s done for us. Feels like a crime against humanity.”
“He’s the ultimate professional, and we still communicate all the time about it,” Finch said. “The way it all went down and everything was very tough, but fortunately, we were able to get him back. But it’s been hard. Hard choices. Fortunately, the guys that have stepped up into the minutes are playing well, and he’s rooting hard for those guys.”
Conley has appeared in 47 games this season, starting just nine. His playing time had already been declining before the trade deadline and has worsened since, with the veteran guard appearing in only three games and totaling 25 minutes over that stretch.
His numbers have dipped to career lows across the board, including minutes (17.8), points (4.1), rebounds (1.7), assists (2.9), and steals (0.6). His shooting has also suffered, with a 31.5% field goal percentage and a 31.1% mark from 3-point range, both career lows. Conley is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and given the current trajectory, retirement could be one of the options he considers.
As for Minnesota, the team continues to impress behind Anthony Edwards and currently sits fifth in the Western Conference with a 44-28 record. The Timberwolves will return to action Wednesday night at home against the Houston Rockets.
