Timberwolves’ next move after the trade deadline is painfully obvious

Editor's note: This article was published 13 minutes before it was officially announced that Conley plans to return to the Wolves.

The NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone, but that doesn't mean moves are over, as teams can still look to the buyout market to round out their roster. With two open roster spots, it's fair to expect the Minnesota Timberwolves to take advantage of the buyout market, and it feels all but guaranteed that they'll bring Mike Conley back.

Regardless, Conley seems destined to return to Minnesota. There have been plenty of rumors mentioning this possibility as a likelihood, and Anthony Edwards openly advocated for Conley's return after Wednesday's game against the Toronto Raptors.

Conley's ability to return to the Wolves is possible since he was moved not once but twice. Had the Chicago Bulls waived him after the original trade, his return wouldn't have been possible -- yet they traded him to the Charlotte Hornets, and he was waived from there.

Conley's return makes too much sense not to happen

I personally like the idea of Conley returning, assuming he won't play big minutes. And with Ayo Dosunmu's arrival, there's simply no reason for Conley to have a sizable role in the rotation. In his age-38 season, Conley has taken a massive step back, averaging just 18.5 minutes, 4.4 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 rebounds on 32.2/32.1/89.1 shooting splits.

Nevertheless, there's no denying that Conley's presence as a veteran leader is valuable. It's clear that his teammates have an immense level of respect for "Uncle Mike," and he has been an important part of the Wolves' success since arriving at the 2023 deadline.

By all accounts, Conley loves playing for the Wolves too, and frankly, I'd be surprised if he joins another contender. In some ways, this feels like a coordinated move by Tim Connelly to bring Conley back on a cheaper salary -- this is especially true given his connection with Bulls president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas from their Denver days.

But hey, I'm not complaining -- having Conley back in a veteran leadership role would benefit the team. When looking at the other options on the buyout market, it's tough to find impactful players. And after trading for Dosunmu, I feel really good about the Wolves' rotation. Thus, bringing Conley back makes even more sense.

As mentioned earlier, though, the Wolves have two open roster spots. While I expect Conley to earn one, at some point, I believe Johnny Juzang's two-way contract will be converted to a standard deal. Juzang has been active for 48 games, while league rules state two-way players can only be active for 50 games. My guess is that they first bring back Conley and convert Juzang's contract in the not-too-distant future.