After a three-and-a-half-season run, Mike Conley is no longer with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
On Wednesday, Shams Charania reported that the 38-year-old point guard had signed a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics.
Conley was on a clear decline over the past two seasons. He averaged a career-low 4.5 points, 2.9 assists, and 18.4 minutes per game this year, and he came off the bench in most games. On top of that, the Timberwolves played better when he was not on the court.
As a small guard, Conley no longer had the burst or scoring ability needed to continue playing extended minutes for a team with championship aspirations.
Coming into the season, Conley had started 96.3% of his 1,172 career games. Therefore, when Donte DiVincenzo replaced him in the starting lineup, it was clear that Conley’s best games are behind him. Conley was already struggling to make a positive impact on the team anyway. Still, the franchise has lost a true professional who left a positive imprint through his steady play and leadership during the golden era of Timberwolves basketball.
The locker room is going to miss having one of the more liked veterans in the league.
When the Timberwolves acquired Conley from the Utah Jazz at the 2022-23 trade deadline, there was a sense of uncertainty. Conley was a proven winner, but he was already in his age-35 season. Replacing D’Angelo Russell with Mike Conley was a dramatic stylistic change for the Timberwolves to adjust to, as they were going from a scoring-focused lead guard to more of a facilitator.
The Timberwolves had just shipped out a litany of assets for Gobert, and he didn’t look comfortable on offense. However, Conley was ultimately the antidote. Conley and Gobert’s empty-corner ball-screen game and two-man game quickly became staples of Minnesota’s offense. Most importantly, they gave Rudy Gobert more purpose offensively.
Moving from Russell to Conley was a big change for Minnesota’s offense. Still, it created offensive flow that offered a drastically different winning outlook compared to the struggles Russell and Gobert experienced in their half-season together. What looked like a risky deal in the moment ultimately propelled the Timberwolves to winning over the next year and a half, during which they reached the Western Conference finals in two straight seasons.
Conley solved the Gobert-related offense questions as much as he could. However, it also drove all of Conley’s early offensive success with the Timberwolves. Conley was a proven three-point shooter over his 16 seasons with the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies, but he had a truly special three-season run after arriving in Minnesota.
Overall, Conley shot 41.2% from three in his three seasons in Minnesota. Most importantly, he was a malleable shooter. He could get to pull-up threes off Gobert screens, and he also offered spacing as a catch-and-shoot outlet pass away from Anthony Edwards and other teammates, both above the break and in the corners.
LaMelo Ball and Conley are drastically different players and at different stages of their careers. Still, Conley’s ability to fit wherever he could to make Anthony Edwards’ life easier revealed his true value. The Timberwolves will have to overhaul their offense to fit LaMelo’s scoring acumen better, but Conley provided the blueprint for what Anthony Edwards needs alongside him.
His veteran presence was on display off the court. Still, Conley provided Edwards with a steady outlet on the court and served as a valuable mentor off it. The duo’s relationship was well documented.
There are countless press conferences featuring the duo’s banter. Whether it was Edwards’ “Bite Bite” moniker for Conley or Edwards calling Conley “old as f***” during a Western Conference Finals postgame press conference, the backcourt pair was able to find the balance of on-court chemistry and an off-court connection.
Mike Conley was a consummate professional for the Timberwolves. He didn’t care about his numbers. He focused on developing the players around him, setting others up for success, and being a guiding voice.
Anthony Edwards has shown the ability to be a clear vocal leader. Still, after Mike Conley, Kyle Anderson, and assistant coach Micah Nori left the Timberwolves, others will have to step up collectively.
Minnesota’s swing on LaMelo Ball should transform the offense and bring a drastically different dynamic to the backcourt. However, they are bound to have growing pains and make adjustments throughout the regular season. The Timberwolves may not miss Conley’s play. Still, it may be a cliché, but the veteran presence Conley provided cannot be overstated.
So long, Bite Bite.
