The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t land the blockbuster name some fans were dreaming about at the trade deadline - Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t heading to the Twin Cities - but that doesn’t mean they sat on their hands. Instead, Minnesota pulled off a pair of savvy, under-the-radar moves that upgraded the roster, cleaned up the cap sheet, and, thanks to a little-known wrinkle in the CBA, allowed them to bring back a key veteran in the process.
Let’s break it down.
The Wolves worked two separate trades with the Chicago Bulls that, when viewed together, show just how sharp the front office has been under Tim Connelly. In the first deal, Minnesota sent veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. to the Bulls as part of a three-team trade that included the Detroit Pistons.
Chicago then flipped Conley to the Charlotte Hornets. Shortly after, Charlotte waived him, making him a free agent.
Here’s where it gets interesting: under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, a team can’t trade a player, watch him get waived, and then immediately re-sign him. That’s a no-go - unless the player is traded again in a separate transaction before being waived.
That’s exactly what happened here. Since Conley was moved twice - first to Chicago, then to Charlotte - Minnesota is now eligible to re-sign him, and they plan to do just that, according to ESPN.
Why go through all this maneuvering? It’s all about flexibility.
Conley’s $10.4 million salary came off the Timberwolves’ books when they sent him to Chicago, helping them slide under the NBA’s first tax apron. That opened the door for Minnesota to make its second move - acquiring guard Ayo Dosunmu from the Bulls.
In exchange for Dosunmu, Chicago received Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks. That’s a solid haul, and it’s worth noting that the quick turnaround on these two trades - and the fact that the Bulls helped facilitate Conley’s path back to Minnesota - might raise a few eyebrows around the league. One of those second-rounders may have been a little thank-you for Chicago’s cooperation, though that’s purely speculation.
Regardless, the end result is clear: Minnesota managed to clear cap space, bring in a talented young guard in Dosunmu, and still hold on to Conley, a veteran leader who’s been a steadying presence for the Wolves over the past four seasons. And they’ll likely re-sign him at the veteran minimum - a major win from a roster-building standpoint.
It’s the kind of strategic, forward-thinking move that doesn’t always make headlines but can pay serious dividends come playoff time. Connelly and the front office didn’t swing for the fences - they didn’t have to. Instead, they played the margins, used the CBA to their advantage, and came away with a better, deeper, and more financially flexible team.
In a Western Conference that’s wide open behind the top tier, moves like these could make all the difference.