Minnesota Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards.
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The Minnesota Timberwolves are giving Anthony Edwards exactly what he wants with their reported roster move.
The NBA trade deadline has past, but on Friday, February 6, the Minnesota Timberwolves still made a move that impacted their roster. On Friday morning, news surfaced that the team plans to bring back veteran guard Mike Conley Jr., after trading him to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, February 3. Following the trade to the Bulls, Conley was traded to Charlotte and then released.
The move will gave veteran Anthony Edwards exactly what he wants, after Edwards made it clear to reporters following the team’s game on Wednesday, February 4, that he wanted the Timberwolves to bring Conley back.
Following the Timberwolves’ win over the Raptures, reporters asked Edwards about the three-team trade, which saw the Bulls taking Conley and Pistons guard Jaden Ivey, with the Detroit Pistons getting Kevin Huerter, Dario Saric and a protected 2026 first-round swap from the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves Gets His Wish
Edwards talked about the trade, focusing on Conley. “Mike’s my guy,” Edwards told reporters after the game. “He’s like an OG to me. Always helped me when I was struggling on the court. Great conversation off the court, just a great dude overall. So, hopefully we can get him back.”
Edwards added, “I don’t really know how it go, but I keep hearing he can come back, so hopefully he will. And I hope you see this. We want you back, Mike. You know we miss him.”
So, Edwards gets his wish, and Conley is back in Minnesota, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania. That was fast, right?
According to Charania, Conley is panning for a return, but timing of the actual re-signing will be thought out. So, he may be a free agent for a while, but Charania says he’ll be back with the Wolves.
“Free agent guard Mike Conley Jr. plans to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN,” Charania reported. “The sides are working on timing of him re-signing. Conley was traded twice this week – to Chicago, then to Charlotte – before being released and allowed to rejoin the Wolves.”
How the Minnesota Timberwolves Are Able to Bring Mike Conley Jr. Back
As for how the Timberwolves were able to trade Conley and then resign him, Robby Kalland of CBS Sports explains how it’s possible in a February 6 feature. “The CBA prevents teams from trading a player, having him waived, and then re-signing that player immediately,” he says. “However, those restrictions are removed if a player is traded a second time in a separate transaction, as happened with Chicago and Charlotte.”
So, the Timberwolves will have no issue if they follow through on bringing Conley back. Kalland adds, “As a result, the Timberwolves managed to save money by dumping Conley’s $10.4 million salary to Chicago in a deal where they took nothing back.”
Also, he adds, “That got the Wolves under the first apron, allowing them more flexibility to make the trade for Dosunmu, and they can re-sign Conley for the minimum because he was dealt to Charlotte before being bought out and waived.”