NBA Rumors: New Mike Conley Jr. Contract Interests Timberwolves During Offseason

The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly interested in re-signing Mike Conley this summer when he becomes a free agent.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported the Timberwolves are "hopeful" the veteran point guard wants to return after emerging as a steady leader in the locker room and presence on the floor.

Conley is averaging 10.6 points, 6.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game while shooting 43.8 percent from three-point range. His ability to serve as a lead ball-handler and knock down open threes consistently has kept the floor consistently open for the surging Timberwolves, who are currently tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder atop the Western Conference.

The Utah Jazz traded Conley to Minnesota at last year's deadline, and he is making $24.4 million in the final year of his contract.

Conley will be due for a reduction in salary heading into his age-37 season in 2024-25, but the Timberwolves might be willing to pay a premium to keep him in Minnesota. Contenders will likely be more than happy to offer Conley the nontaxpayer midlevel exception over the summer. Minnesota, which is not a free-agent destination, may see its hand forced into offering something like $15-18 million a year to keep Conley around.

If Conley continues to perform the way he has this season, it will be money well-spent. That said, there should be an understandable concern for a small-market team like the Wolves spending that type of money on Conley when they already have major money tied up in Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards.