Minnesota Sports Forum

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 18, 2026 6:54 pm

SameOldNudityDrew wrote: ↑Wed Feb 18, 2026 3:31 pm Ballhandling, injury insurance. . . what do you guys think is the team's biggest need going forward?

Drew, I'm assuming you mean for next year and beyond? They are pretty much what they are going to be for the rest of this season. Let's hope when the playoffs start we are peaking. As far as the intermediate future goes, I think they need to allow Jaden to grow into the 2nd star on this team. That means trading Randle for other assets. To me it's the most critical development that needs to happen.

kekgeek wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 4:03 pm Mike Conley on why he doesn’t see a 20 minute role for himself moving forward

“I’m getting older man(laughs), that’s one thing, but I just think that it’s their opportunity more than it is mine… they’re right before their prime or in their prime. They should be getting these runs, they should be getting these big minutes… I’ve done all that, and I can be the stop gap here and there or the pinch hitter when you need me or whatever you need, but I’m prepared for that… like I said, I’m just happy to be here and help the guys as much as I can”

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 5:03 pm

kekgeek wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 4:03 pm Mike Conley on why he doesn’t see a 20 minute role for himself moving forward

“I’m getting older man(laughs), that’s one thing, but I just think that it’s their opportunity more than it is mine… they’re right before their prime or in their prime. They should be getting these runs, they should be getting these big minutes… I’ve done all that, and I can be the stop gap here and there or the pinch hitter when you need me or whatever you need, but I’m prepared for that… like I said, I’m just happy to be here and help the guys as much as I can”

Being nothing but a vehicle through which salaries can match and caps are managed by multiple teams over the course of a few days probably told him all he needed to know about where he stands as a viable regular NBA rotation player. But he probably saw the writing on the wall even before the trade deadline activity.

He's insurance and that's what we need. There is no reason to play him over Ayo or Bones unless there's an injury or things have completely fallen apart in terms of organization on the floor.

FNG wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 5:52 pm I listened to 15 minutes of Mike on Barreiro today. He's obviously delighted to be back. The only surprise to me during the interview was how out of the loop Mike was throughout the process...I guess in my mind I thought TC had a plan in place from the start and was sharing it with Mike. Nope. TC called Mike a couple days before the deal to tell him there were some things in the works. But he actually heard about the trade to Chicago from Jaden, who had learned about the trade on the internet! He then started paying attention and knew about the trade to Charlotte when it happened. He included his family in the news as things were developing, and his kids were asking him about the weather in Charlotte. And when Charlotte released him, he still didn't know about the rule that made him eligible to return to the Wolves after being traded twice...he was assuming his time in Minnesota was over. I guess I'm a little surprised TC wasn't including a classy vet like Mike in the developments, but I guess he didn't know both Chicago would trade Mike and Charlotte would release him, so maybe he just assumed Mike would never be a Timberwolf again. One thing is pretty clear...the locker room is quite happy he is back too.

Jester1534 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 9:58 pm

FNG wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 5:52 pm I listened to 15 minutes of Mike on Barreiro today. He's obviously delighted to be back. The only surprise to me during the interview was how out of the loop Mike was throughout the process...I guess in my mind I thought TC had a plan in place from the start and was sharing it with Mike. Nope. TC called Mike a couple days before the deal to tell him there were some things in the works. But he actually heard about the trade to Chicago from Jaden, who had learned about the trade on the internet! He then started paying attention and knew about the trade to Charlotte when it happened. He included his family in the news as things were developing, and his kids were asking him about the weather in Charlotte. And when Charlotte released him, he still didn't know about the rule that made him eligible to return to the Wolves after being traded twice...he was assuming his time in Minnesota was over. I guess I'm a little surprised TC wasn't including a classy vet like Mike in the developments, but I guess he didn't know both Chicago would trade Mike and Charlotte would release him, so maybe he just assumed Mike would never be a Timberwolf again. One thing is pretty clear...the locker room is quite happy he is back too.

I mean the veteran that Mike could be covering for the GM that wanted to bring him back.

FNG wrote: ↑Fri Feb 20, 2026 6:35 am

Jester1534 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 9:58 pm

FNG wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 5:52 pm I listened to 15 minutes of Mike on Barreiro today. He's obviously delighted to be back. The only surprise to me during the interview was how out of the loop Mike was throughout the process...I guess in my mind I thought TC had a plan in place from the start and was sharing it with Mike. Nope. TC called Mike a couple days before the deal to tell him there were some things in the works. But he actually heard about the trade to Chicago from Jaden, who had learned about the trade on the internet! He then started paying attention and knew about the trade to Charlotte when it happened. He included his family in the news as things were developing, and his kids were asking him about the weather in Charlotte. And when Charlotte released him, he still didn't know about the rule that made him eligible to return to the Wolves after being traded twice...he was assuming his time in Minnesota was over. I guess I'm a little surprised TC wasn't including a classy vet like Mike in the developments, but I guess he didn't know both Chicago would trade Mike and Charlotte would release him, so maybe he just assumed Mike would never be a Timberwolf again. One thing is pretty clear...the locker room is quite happy he is back too.

I mean the veteran that Mike could be covering for the GM that wanted to bring him back.

I was wondering the same thing, Jester, but Mike sounded quite confused about the whole ordeal...maybe he's just a really good actor!

Monster wrote: ↑Fri Feb 20, 2026 7:19 am

FNG wrote: ↑Fri Feb 20, 2026 6:35 am

Jester1534 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 9:58 pm

I mean the veteran that Mike could be covering for the GM that wanted to bring him back.

I was wondering the same thing, Jester, but Mike sounded quite confused about the whole ordeal...maybe he's just a really good actor!

Connelly may also have not wanted to give Mike too many details because he thought there was a real chance off mike getting traded multiple times and then bought out and he didn't want there to be any questions about whether or not they influenced the situation to their advantage to get him back or whatever.

I also think in this day in age it's difficult to have everyone communicated when something happens. You may not want to call your player till the deal is actually finalized but whatever reporter finds out and communicates it out. I think a lot of players probably understand this is all part of the business but still it's a little wild. A lot of these player while still humans have a few million reasons to be able to get through it.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 5:03 pm

kekgeek wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 4:03 pm Mike Conley on why he doesn’t see a 20 minute role for himself moving forward

“I’m getting older man(laughs), that’s one thing, but I just think that it’s their opportunity more than it is mine… they’re right before their prime or in their prime. They should be getting these runs, they should be getting these big minutes… I’ve done all that, and I can be the stop gap here and there or the pinch hitter when you need me or whatever you need, but I’m prepared for that… like I said, I’m just happy to be here and help the guys as much as I can”

Being nothing but a vehicle through which salaries can match and caps are managed by multiple teams over the course of a few days probably told him all he needed to know about where he stands as a viable regular NBA rotation player. But he probably saw the writing on the wall even before the trade deadline activity.

He's insurance and that's what we need. There is no reason to play him over Ayo or Bones unless there's an injury or things have completely fallen apart in terms of organization on the floor.