The Clippers aren’t the only Western Conference playoff contender eyeing Mike Conley. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Timberwolves have also expressed interest in the Jazz point guard.
As Charania outlines, the Wolves will have to make a decision in the coming months on D’Angelo Russell, who is on an expiring $31.4MM contract and appears unlikely to sign an extension with Minnesota before reaching free agency in July. If Russell leaves as a free agent this summer, the Wolves would lose his salary slot, which could negatively impact their ability to acquire another impact player moving forward.
According to Charania, Minnesota has been exploring trade scenarios involving Russell and has been prioritizing finding another point guard in such a deal.
Conley, 35, is nearly nine years older than Russell and has seen his production decline in recent years, but he’s averaging a career-high 7.5 assists per game this season to go along with 10.3 PPG on .386/.354/.789 shooting. As Charania points out, the Jazz have a winning record (18-17) with Conley available this season and are just 5-7 without him.
Conley, a well-respected veteran in the locker room, is earning $22.68MM this season and has a partially guaranteed $24.36MM salary for 2023/24. His partial guarantee is pretty substantial ($14.32MM), so he looks more likely to be retained for next season than waived unless he has a poor second half or suffers a major injury.
As mentioned above, the Clippers have also reportedly conveyed interest in Conley, which Charania confirms.
As the Wolves consider their options with Russell, there have also been rumors about the possibility of a trade with Miami involving Kyle Lowry. However, Minnesota is said to be averse to the idea of taking on Lowry’s contract, which is pricier than Conley’s ($28.3MM this season, $29.7MM in ’23/24) and is fully guaranteed.
Timberwolves have interest in Mike Conley???? Is this a joke???? Now, Minnesota is willing to move on from D’Angelo Russell??? You couldn’t make this evaluation WHILE you were entrenched in talks with Utah all summer????
What assets does Minnesota have left to get Conley???
Kyle Lowry????
Perhaps Minnesota should NOT have dealt their locker room leader from last year, Patrick Beverley, in the Gobert trade.
This Tim Connelly thing in Minnesota. What is going on????
You’re forgetting the Jazz side. They didn’t want to trade Conley to anyone. They wanted a couple veterans to help all the new guys with the transition and chemistry. Seems to have worked until everyone figured out the Jazz’s defense. Lol
Dlo is the MAIN reason the Timberwolves have underperformed whilst he has worn their uniform…
Swapping him out for a competent PG would make the offence work… As shown everytime Dlo is off the floor…
Conley might be nearere retirement, but he has more years in the NBA ahead of him… Whilst Dlo will be lucky to catch on to a tanking team before he heads overseas to continue playing basketball…
That’s a lot of questions marks. Not sure you need a whole lot of assets when you’re offering a max (at one point) expiring contract. Not that we should, but Nax Reid is a pretty good sweetener for a deal for Connelly. Frankly we should get a contract like Vanderbilt back in this kind of deal, I think.
I’m wondering if the Jazz would avoid the TWolves? Otherwise, they’re likely to ask for some of their assets back. Lol
Lol it’s the Wolves that should avoid the Jazz dammit!
Can’t be traded back this season
If Suns want to dump luxury tax next season
DLo for Chris Paul
Suns are likely to have 4 big contracts next season
Booker
Ayton
Bridges
Johnson
CP3 isnt that bad is he?
When is Minnesota going to learn ainge will end up fleecing them again.
Russell is getting out of that Dumpster fire. Minnesota is a sinking ship. Danny Anige has the Jazz on the upswing. Kessler looked amazing last night. He can trade KO to the Warriors for Moody.
I’ld like KO to GSW also
Dlo is the main cause of the fire. But cool act like you know anything.
Anywhere Dlo goes is a sinking ship…
Dlo’s time in the NBA is over… He’s seen as one of the worst contracts in the league and he’ll be wanting a pay raise which only Glen Taylor would give him…
He’s had 2 major chances since flopping with the Warriors…
First it was KAT who was meant to help unlock Dlo PnR game… This year it was the addition of Gobert that was meant to turn Dlo into the best version of himself…
It’s obvious that the best version of Dlo is the version that is easily played off the floor in the playoffs… He makes Goberts post season record look like a fart in the clouds…
Russell is a wash. He’s not a player. Just wants to get paid, is all. These are the kind of players you should never, NEVER have on your team. This is anti team behavior.
Minny with all the guards they have. Would have interest in Conley. Should really tell you Russell is worthless.
Minnie needs a low TO floor manager who can pass to finish the 4th instead of Ant
I don’t usually agree with your takes… But you are spot on here…
Dlo is all about his payday and stroking his ego… He doesn’t care about the team or the game…
Clipps get Conley and KO
Minn get J.Wall + Rocco + Kennard
Jazz get T.Mann/Boston.Jr + Naz + D.Lo
I like the framework of that deal but the Clippers give up a little too much
Minn Wall Rocco Coffey
Jazz get Boston jr + Naz + dLo
Add T.Rozier + G.Hayward if you want to hit a mega tradorama
That’s just not a good trade.
Conley’s corpse lying in a casket is a better option at PG than Dlo anyday…