Mike Conley is returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves two weeks after he was traded away in a deadline move, the team announced Tuesday.
The Wolves traded Conley to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal as a way to shed the remaining amount of the veteran point guard’s $10 million salary for this season. The Bulls subsequently moved Conley to the Charlotte Hornets, who eventually waived him.
Because he was traded a second time before being waived, Conley was free to sign back with Minnesota. He will be making the veteran minimum.
Conley, 38, has been a steadying presence at point guard throughout his 19 NBA seasons but had begun to decline in recent seasons. He started nine of the 44 games he appeared in for the Timberwolves this season and was averaging career lows of 4.4 points and 2.9 assists.
However Conley’s presence in the Wolves’ locker room is valued by the organization and franchise star Anthony Edwards was among those to vouch for his return to the team.