After some recent trade-deadline posturing by GM Tim Connelly, the Minnesota Timberwolves now have the most aptly equipped roster to reach the NBA Finals in their 37-year franchise history. Why, you might ask? The answer is simple: the band is getting back together.
Timberwolves Bring Back “Minnesota Mike”
In the NBA, team chemistry and cohesiveness as a unit are invaluable. As Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic noted in his recent article about Minnesota’s reacquisition of Mike Conley, the decision to bring Conley back “was a short conversation.” When asked about the whirlwind, Conley responded, “I think the best-case scenario for all of us was to be here (Minnesota) and finish out the year with what we started and don’t have to uproot everybody and can keep everybody happy.”
Free agent guard Mike Conley Jr. plans to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. The sides are working on timing of him re-signing. Conley was traded twice this week – to Chicago, then to Charlotte – before being released and allowed to rejoin the Wolves. pic.twitter.com/ht6HVIIqm4
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2026
The team he is returning to is fundamentally different from the one he left. Trading Conley helped the Timberwolves save nearly $20 million in luxury-tax penalties. It also helped them secure another deal with the Bulls, landing the coveted guard Ayo Dosunmu to bolster their bench.
Krawczysnki also notes that head coach Chris Finch never lost trust in the veteran. “He’s meant so much to us,” Finch said. “We don’t have the success that we’ve had without him. It’s great to have him back for all the reasons — the leadership and the maturity and the experience that he brings.” That perspective is exactly why Connelly wanted Conley back in the Wolves’ locker room.
On a team that can sometimes be out of rhythm, Conley is the metronome that keeps everyone on time.
The Unexpected Return of “Slow Mo”
The Timberwolves have also brought back Kyle Anderson, another key player in their recent playoff success. As ESPN‘s Shams Charania reported on Thursday, Anderson has agreed to a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies. Then, on March 2, Anderson signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Really nice move to get Kyle back in the fold. Anderson had other options on the table, but he comes back to Minnesota to give the Wolves some more versatility and a valued locker room voice. https://t.co/GOfwrJIHAZ
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) February 26, 2026
Anderson spent two seasons with the Wolves before getting traded to the Golden State Warriors in 2024. He started 46 games in his first season in Minnesota, averaging 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. During those two years, Anderson proved himself to be a crucial role player capable of making a huge impact.
Adding Ancillary Pieces
Chris Hine of the Minnesota Star Tribune reported Sunday that the Wolves were set to sign guard Zyon Pullin to a two-way contract. Pullin, who attended UC Riverside and the University of Florida, has averaged 23.8 points for Minnesota’s G-League affiliate.
What’s Next for Timberwolves?
Coming off a win in Denver on Sunday, the 38-23 Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves towards the top of the West. As they continue their gradual climb up the West standings, they are now in fourth place, just ahead of Denver (38-24). They will try to stay ahead of the Nuggets and chase down the Rockets (38-22) for the third seed.
The Wolves don’t have the tiebreaker over Denver because of their 1-3 season series record. They will need to finish a game ahead of them in the standings in a head-to-head tiebreaker scenario to end up seeded ahead of them.
“We flagged it as a playoff game for us,” coach Finch told reporters postgame in Denver. “They have the tiebreaker, so we got to keep our nose in front of them. That means we had to win this one here. We were mad at ourselves on Christmas. We had kicked that one away, and we were itching to get back here and redeem ourselves.”
Full-Speed Ahead
With a renewed veteran presence due to Connelly’s ability to reassemble playoff rosters past, the time is absolutely now for Minnesota to break through the Western Conference Finals. Chasing down an already-clinched Oklahoma City squad and a San Antonio team that nobody wants to meet in the playoffs may be a tough ask. However, keeping their nose in front of teams like Houston and Denver in the seeding race could make all the difference in the 2026 postseason.