With all due respect, I think the vast majority of Minnesota Timberwolves fans hope to see Mike Conley traded ahead of the February 5 deadline. At the very least, fans hope to see the Wolves trade for a point guard upgrade. I don't say, "with all due respect", sarcastically, I truly mean it -- Conley has been an awesome veteran presence and a key part of the team's success since arriving in 2023.
Nevertheless, at 38, he is at the end of the road, averaging just 4.6 points, on 32.9 percent shooting from the field. Furthermore, the Wolves are 6.3 points per 100 possessions worse with Conley on the court, according to Cleaning the Glass. To make a sizable trade, without giving up crucial parts of their rotation, Conley's expiring $10.7 million contract has to be included.
One player who comes to mind is Collin Sexton. The Wolves have confirmed interest in the Charlotte Hornets guard, and he has an all-around skill set that would make him an ideal fit next to Anthony Edwards. However, based on recent reporting from Jake Fischer, the Wolves aren't very keen on trading Conley.
"I've also been told Minnesota isn't as keen as advertised when it comes to parting with Mike Conley Jr.; there appears to be more willingness to move on from Rob Dillingham," Fischer wrote.
Keeping Conley out of trade talks is a mistake
Hanging on to Conley all but guarantees the Wolves won't be able to trade for Sexton (or a point guard with a similar salary like Dennis Schroder). Sexton has been my favorite high-end target for the Wolves. With an intriguing blend of self-creation, finishing, outside shooting, playmaking, and perimeter defense, he checks all the boxes the Wolves need.
His $18.9 million expiring contract always complicated matters, but a deal centered around Conley, Dillingham, and Leonard Miller would work financially. This might seem like a low return for Charlotte, but let us not forget the Hornets got him and a second-round pick for Jusuf Nurkic this summer. As such, if the Wolves were willing to part ways with Conley, they could feasibly trade for Sexton.
I get that Conley still has value as a veteran leader, but if the idea of trading him prevents the Wolves from having a chance to land Sexton or another guard -- that's a bit silly. The NBA is a business at the end of the day, and the 18-year veteran Conley understands that. The Wolves have a championship-level team, but they must upgrade their point guard room, even if that means trading a beloved veteran in Conley.
Now, if the Wolves trade Donte DiVincenzo in place of Conley, they could trade for Sexton. Regardless, this would be unwise given the Wolves' poor depth and that Donte and Sexton are similar-level players.
The Wolves will now have to focus on cheaper point guards
Fischer's reporting essentially guarantees that if the Timberwolves make a trade for a point guard, it will be for a cheaper guard. He also noted that the Wolves "are going to think long and hard" about acquiring Coby White given his pending free agency.
The Wolves' primary targets could now become guys like Tre Jones, Ayo Dosunmu, Jose Alvarado, and Scotty Pippen Jr.
Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily -- these types of players would come at a lower price, both financially and trade-wise.
Nevertheless, it's hard to argue that Collin Sexton wouldn't be the biggest needle mover that the Wolves could feasibly acquire, and their unwillingness to trade Conley might cost them a chance to land him.