When the offseason started, did anyone think Mike Conley Jr. was a target for the Boston Celtics? You should look into trying your hand at the lottery if you did, but it further cements Brad Stevens' reputation as an executive who works in the shadows.
But Conley is a rather odd addition. Once upon a time, he was among the league's most underrated players and even had himself a pretty eventful renaissance in Minnesota, but now, he's regarded as one of the NBA's best teammates and locker room veterans and not much else...
So why join the Celtics? Because he's ring-chasing. Now in his late 30s, there's so much tread on Conley's tires that it's hard to see him having that pivotal of a role on the Celtics, though who knows? He could definitely play in the regular season, but the Timberwolves had drastically reduced his role before Donte DiVincenzo's unfortunate Achilles tear for a good reason.
Conley's reputation as a locker room leader will keep him in the league even as his skills are diminishing, but him picking Boston signals that he thinks he can win a championship with the Celtics with only so many years left in his NBA career.
Conley may be the new Blake Griffin
When Boston brought in Blake Griffin in 2022, it was to add more frontcourt depth and a player with high character. By the time it ended, Griffin had endeared himself so well to the Celtics and their fanbase that, despite definitely not being anywhere close to the player he was, everyone had hoped he would return for another ride.
Griffin played sparingly. More specifically, he played when Al Horford had to rest on back-to-backs, but that turned into a pretty fun plot twist because Griffin's transition into more of a emergency fill-in seemed to be something he thrived at. He somehow made Horford's rest days... exciting?
Not to mention that there was plenty of praise about the voice he had in that locker room. Many forget that he played a pivotal role in keeping Payton Pritchard's spirits up back when he too only played when Boston was down a guard in their rotation.
Conley may have a bigger role than Griffin did, though we won't know until we see the full scope of the Celtics' plans. Regardless of what role he will have when he takes the floor, his reputation as a leader could play a big role in keeping that locker room functional.
It's not like anyone should complain about this signing. Not a whole lot can go wrong, especially if this is a sign of confidence that Boston believes Banner 19 is in their grasp.
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