New Celtics guard Mike Conley seemed to love his time in Minnesota. His four years with the Timberwolves included two trips to the Western Conference Finals. And even when they dealt him at last February's trade deadline, there was never any doubt he would wind up back in the Twin Cities to finish the 2025-26 campaign.
However, this summer, rather than returning for a fifth season alongside Anthony Edwards and Co., Conley signed with Boston. It was a decision made relatively quickly, with the announcement coming on the first full day of free agency.
In a recent appearance on Bobby Manning's podcast, Celtics Daily, on CLNS Media, Jon Krawczynski, a senior writer for The Athletic who covers the Timberwolves as well as the NBA at large, explained why.
How did Mike Conley land in Boston after 4 beloved years in Minnesota? @JonKrawczynski: “I was told Mike really wanted to at least spend one year playing for a flagship franchise.”
— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) September 6, 2026
We discussed what Conley brings to Boston in our Celtics player preview series. pic.twitter.com/H9ukKzLZDT
"I was told Mike really wanted to at least spend one year playing for a flagship franchise," shared Krawczynski.
Why the Celtics and Mike Conley were a perfect match
As Krawczynski notes in the clip above, this wasn't a case of a team being ready to move on from an older veteran. The Timberwolves wanted to keep the soon-to-be 39-year-old in the fold.
The former Ohio State star is a highly respected veteran, one head coach Chris Finch leans on throughout the course of a campaign. He would have been an ideal mentor to help guide newly acquired guard LaMelo Ball.
However, as Krawczynski discussed, the opportunity to play for a preeminent NBA franchise before retiring drove him to Boston.
There, his new team will have a plan to optimize Conley.
How the Celtics will maximize Mike Conley
The former fourth overall pick -- who went one selection after Al Horford in the 2007 NBA Draft -- is about to become the 14th player in league history to reach his 20th season.
His playing time went down in his final year in Minnesota. Boston also won't put too much on his plate.
Conley's optimal role as an added layer of depth is part of the compelling case to bring Payton Pritchard off the bench too. However, even if that doesn't happen, the Celtics will often turn to their abundance of talented wings instead of overtaxing Conley.
Instead, he's a tremendous insurance policy as a third guard. He also brings that same veteran wisdom the Timberwolves wanted to keep around to his new club. Just as he was a valuable resource for Chris Finch, he can be one for Joe Mazzulla, along with being a respected voice in the locker room and on the sideline during games.
Both sides are excited about this partnership and their ability to get the most out of it, even if it only lasts for one season.
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