Mike Conley Warmed Up with Jazz so Teammates Wouldn't Know He Was Traded to T-Wolves
Mike Conley was a veteran leader for the Utah Jazz, and he did what he could for his teammates even after he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
According to Sarah Todd of the Deseret News, Conley warmed up with the team ahead of Wednesday's contest against the Timberwolves "in order to create some normalcy for the team and not tip off anyone else about the impending news."
Todd called Conley "a leader of this team, on and off the court" and noted there was a sense of sadness in the locker room when players found out he was dealt.
"The ultimate professional," Talen Horton-Tucker said. "I told him that I appreciate the type of person he is—being really open and having open arms to all the younger guys, teaching us things."
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Conley is going to Minnesota as part of the three-team deal that sent Russell Westbrook to the Jazz and the combination of D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT reported Utah is expected to buy out Westbrook's contract.
As for Conley, he now has the opportunity to be a veteran leader for a young Timberwolves team that features Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns.
