Minnesota Sports Forum

kekgeek wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 10:19 am The Chicago Bulls are reportedly looking to trade Mike Conley, per @BobbyMarks42

If he is traded again and bought out, he would be able to return to the Timberwolves.

FNG wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 10:28 am

kekgeek wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 10:19 am The Chicago Bulls are reportedly looking to trade Mike Conley, per @BobbyMarks42

If he is traded again and bought out, he would be able to return to the Timberwolves.

Well, Finchy clearly trusts him more than most on this board, so I have been thinking this would be a possibility if TC doesn't find a suitable guard before Friday.

Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 6:41 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 2:31 am I’ll follow up my last post by reiterating my sense that the Wolves already have a deal for Giannis (or some other player as a backup deal) in place and are waiting on a few more details before announcing. I just can’t imagine TC dealing Conley and giving a pick swap as part of that deal just to trim some salary now for financial reasons or to create flexibility for a deal that may or my not happen.

The Conley trade makes no sense unless it’s tied to a major trade deadline deal. Mike Conley’s contract is expiring so it was going to come off the books at the end of this season anyway. The pick swap to trade Conley means we’ll have Detroit’s 2026 pick instead of our own, which means it will likely be pick 29 instead of what could be much higher depending on where he Wolves end up. This summer we’ll be able to deal our 1st round pick as part of a package. Right now, we can’t deal that pick and it will have less trade value in the off season because of the Conley deal. It’s clear that TC wanted the extra cap room right now and that has to mean he has a deal for which that extra cap room is essential. I think it’s Giannis, but if there is no Giannis deal actually in place, then I have to think that TC has another deal locked in as an alternative.

It was reported by Yossi Gozlan (cap guru) that the Wolves, as a result of the trade, have access to the nontax MLE, which can be traded for a salary now. If Giannis doesn't happen it means they could absorb someone into that so that would seem to be the fallback plan.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 12:44 pm

Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 6:41 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 2:31 am I’ll follow up my last post by reiterating my sense that the Wolves already have a deal for Giannis (or some other player as a backup deal) in place and are waiting on a few more details before announcing. I just can’t imagine TC dealing Conley and giving a pick swap as part of that deal just to trim some salary now for financial reasons or to create flexibility for a deal that may or my not happen.

The Conley trade makes no sense unless it’s tied to a major trade deadline deal. Mike Conley’s contract is expiring so it was going to come off the books at the end of this season anyway. The pick swap to trade Conley means we’ll have Detroit’s 2026 pick instead of our own, which means it will likely be pick 29 instead of what could be much higher depending on where he Wolves end up. This summer we’ll be able to deal our 1st round pick as part of a package. Right now, we can’t deal that pick and it will have less trade value in the off season because of the Conley deal. It’s clear that TC wanted the extra cap room right now and that has to mean he has a deal for which that extra cap room is essential. I think it’s Giannis, but if there is no Giannis deal actually in place, then I have to think that TC has another deal locked in as an alternative.

It was reported by Yossi Gozlan (cap guru) that the Wolves, as a result of the trade, have access to the nontax MLE, which can be traded for a salary now. If Giannis doesn't happen it means they could absorb someone into that so that would seem to be the fallback plan.

Interesting. Thanks, Phenom.

Mnwild1128 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 12:47 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 12:44 pm

Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 6:41 am

It was reported by Yossi Gozlan (cap guru) that the Wolves, as a result of the trade, have access to the nontax MLE, which can be traded for a salary now. If Giannis doesn't happen it means they could absorb someone into that so that would seem to be the fallback plan.

Interesting. Thanks, Phenom.

Never in my life have i heard of players being traded into an MLE before. Must be the first time in nba history. Until someone can send me proof of an example. I follow the league and rules closely. First time hearing about this.

60WinTim wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 12:57 pm

Mnwild1128 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 12:47 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 12:44 pm

Interesting. Thanks, Phenom.

Never in my life have i heard of players being traded into an MLE before. Must be the first time in nba history. Until someone can send me proof of an example. I follow the league and rules closely. First time hearing about this.

You are correct. It is a NEW rule.

kekgeek wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 2:23 pm Now that Mike Conley has again been traded, he is now eligible to be signed by the Timberwolves if he is bought out of his current contract.

And that is in fact being considered, I’m told.

-Dane Moore

SameOldNudityDrew wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 2:42 pm Wow, so this Mike trade may have lowered our payroll, giving us some flexibility to make a trade (and saving Lore and ARod some tax money and making some cash), and whether or not we end up using that flexibility to make a trade, we might still get Mike back, presumably on a vet. minimum?

So, like, we gave up swap rights to our pick this summer to basically get someone else to pay Mike's salary for the rest of the year for the flexibility it gave us? I mean, if we end up using that flexibility to add depth, great. If not, I guess that swap right is not likely to hurt us unless we start dropping precipitously in the standings and Chicago starts rising, correct?

The whole thing is kind of weird. We didn't really give up anything of real value (that pick swap is unlikely to convey) and somehow stuck someone else with the bill for Conley's contract? It's just interesting. Again, this is kind of assuming we re-sign Mike, which I have to imagine is what we want right? It's also kind of assuming TC knew that Chicago was going to move Mike later too, but I suppose it's also possible he was just betting on that.