Anthony Edwards, Mike Conley : Playoffs-Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves
Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
It has been a wild day of Minnesota Timberwolves news and it doesn’t seem like it’ll be slowing down anytime soon.
On Tuesday, we got a step closer to a possible Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster when president of basketball operations Tim Connelly traded 20-year NBA veteran point guard Mike Conley to the Chicago Bulls (and a 2026 pick swap to the Detroit Pistons) in exchange for some financial relief.
Just in: Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit have agreed to a multi-team deal that sends Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley Jr. to the Bulls and Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to the Pistons, sources tell ESPN. Detroit also receives a 2026 first-round protected swap from Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/pgxqr1WT90
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2026
That doesn’t mean the move wasn’t significant. According to reports out of ESPN, today’s trade pushes the MN Timberwolves below the first apron of the NBA luxury tax, and likely signals a bigger deal in the works (possibly for Giannis).
Mike Conley buyout incoming — What’s next for Minnesota Timberwolves?
Meanwhile, Brian Windhorst (ESPN) reported on NBA Today this afternoon that Mike Conley will likely land in Chicago as nothing more than a buyout candidate, meaning it’s quite possible we never even see him actually wear a Bulls uniform.
“Mike Conley going to Chicago, this is a potential buyout situation. I don’t think Conley can play a big role on a team. But this is a guy that every team in the league would want. He could get bought out, and a contender — if they fit the criteria, which is another story for another day — Mike Conley could join a contender in the next couple days.”
Brian Windhorst – ESPN (NBA Today)
Windhorst expects there to be a lot of interest on the buyout market for Conley. Pursuers will likely include playoff-caliber teams that needs a leader in their locker room and veteran presence in the backcourt, while loading up rosters for a final stretch run.
Anthony Edwards watching Tim Connelly closely
And according to Brian, Anthony Edwards is watching Connelly’s next move even more closely than Timberwolves fans are. Because if his PoBO doesn’t have another trick up his sleeve that helps explain the Mike Conley trade… then he’ll have to speak on it to Ant directly.
Anthony Edwards is watching Tim Connelly's next move VERY closely, after the Timberwolves sold off Mike Conley's contract today, per @WindhorstESPN:
"[The Wolves] could have gotten Coby White in this trade, and they need help with the guard position. So I want to watch what… pic.twitter.com/1r9R9AWLEu
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) February 3, 2026
“I want to see what the Minnesota Timberwolves do guard-wise, assuming they don’t get Giannis. They could have gotten Coby White in this trade, and they need help with the guard position. So I want to watch what Minnesota does between now and Thursday, and I’m sure Ant Edwards does too.
I don’t wanna overreact on Tuesday when the deadline is Thursday, but if you come out of this week and Minnesota’s only move is just to save money, they’re gonna have to answer to Ant on that.”
Brian Windhorst – ESPN (NBA Today)
Related: Real Reason Kevin Durant Spurned MN Timberwolves Revealed
In case you haven’t been paying attention, Minnesota’s status as a first apron luxury tax team is what was causing so many problems for Tim Connelly, who’s been trying for weeks to work out a trade that makes the Wolves a legitimate championship contender.
I cannot imagine a scenario where the MN Timberwolves do not make another (much bigger) deal that reveals the reasoning behind Conley’s exit — which is exactly what how Windhorst and Anthony Edwards feel, as well.
Mentioned in this article: Anthony Edwards Mike Conley NBA Trade Deadline Tim Connelly
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