The Timberwolves brought in veteran Mike Conley to run the point and dealt impending free agent D’Angelo Russell. Coach Chris Finch believes Conley will be a better fit to initiate their offense, Chris Hine of The Star Tribune writes.
“(Russell has) grown to have a lot of fans around the league and we were able to make a move that we felt matched us up a little bit better as we grow into this roster, get a little bit healthier,” Finch said. “We get KAT (Karl-Anthony Towns) back, Ant’s (Anthony Edwards‘) ascendancy — we just kind of needed a connector. I felt we needed a guy who was a connector there. When you have a chance to get a guy like Mike, you don’t think too much about it.”
We have more from the Timberwolves:
- Minnesota was looking to make more deals, particularly for shooters, before the deadline passed on Thursday, according to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski. Among the players the Wolves pursued were Denver’s Bones Hyland, Phoenix’s Jae Crowder, Detroit’s Saddiq Bey and Miami’s Max Strus. All of those players except Strus got traded elsewhere.
- In the same story, Krawczynski reports that the Timberwolves fielded many inquiries regarding center Naz Reid. More than a dozen teams asked about his availability but the Wolves didn’t come close to moving him. He’ll be an unrestricted free agency after the season.
- Conley is not only busy meshing his on-court skills with his new teammates — he’s also quickly establishing himself in the locker room, Krawczynski writes in a separate story. “Leadership. Just being that veteran in the locker room that we needed,” Edwards said. “He can shoot the ball really good. Pass the ball. Him and Rudy (Gobert) got a really good connection, so I think it should be pretty good.”
- The fact that Conley is signed through next season also added to the appeal of acquiring his services, GM Tim Connelly told Hine. “There was some appeal of the contract of Mike as well,” Connelly said. “You’re always trying to think for the here and now and think of next year and beyond. It was not done lightly, and (Russell) was not a guy we were looking to move just to move.” Conley’s $24.36MM salary for next season is partially guaranteed for $14.32MM.
I was wondering how Minny was going to use DLo’s cap space for future years- Letting him expire would have been a no-no,extending him might have been somehow worse
This is nice middle ground
It’s an upgrade…
Dlo/Conley is win/win for wolves and lakers. In LA, DLo doesn’t have to be a true point, he can play more the 2 and a supporting role where he’s best suited. Wolves get a floor general who knows Rudy.
DLo is best suited as a 6th man gunner… At his best he’s a poor man’s Jamal Crawford…
With LeBron out there running the show his poor decision making won’t be as a big of an issue with him off ball…
@C&C – Mr. Nice Guy did pretty well, not to mention being due some credit for getting right back on the horse and doing another deal with UTH. Still, though, he was playing checkers.
The guy who played chess this deadline season, and quite well, was your guy Pelinka. I know its too late to change the narrative on him, and I’m not even sure I want to. But, somehow, he added 4-5 playoff quality rotation players on real contracts in exchange for expiring and minimum contracts, without giving away a ping pong ball, without touching his 2028 or 2029 FRPs, and keeping open the possibility of 30 mm in cap space in this offseason. That’s a trick! Anyway, he wins my award for Best Deadline Performance by a FO Chief Already Designated an Idiot. LAL season probably still rests on LBJ and AD both playing at their best, together, but nobody can say there is no talent around them.
Rob did well my only wonder was is it too late? All 3 of these teams would have been a lot better off making this deal 2~3 weeks ago
Ainge should have demanded Christie, not taken Jones and demanded all protections be lifted. Don’t know if giving Rob all the credit is well deserved, Ainge deserves some fault Imo here, Lakers had no leverage
Rui and Bamba probably just didn’t have a market but some credit for checking in
Either way tho 2 k nation takes another Big L this deadline with ill sighted prognostications all year bearing no fruit.
**Shame on OKC as well, just a disgusting deadline for a fanbase that deserves {something}
Conley is a better fit than Russell. Makes them better.
Ironically Russell is a better fit in LA right now. Nice pickup by Lakers.
It’s one of those rare deals where 2 teams come out clear winners…
“He can shoot the ball really good.”
Conley’s offseason workout guy in Columbus is pretty darn good!
Conley is such an upgrade for the Wolves they may be a team no other team wants to see in a playoff series…