The Minnesota Timberwolves and point guard Mike Conley agreed Monday to a two-year contract extension worth about $21 million that would last through his 19th season in the NBA, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not yet been finalized. The league is on a brief hiatus for the All-Star break.
"I think this will be his final deal. He'll retire here unless he's traded. It's about his leadership, about being in a situation where he's the vet in the room, he's going to make all the right plays for the team," says WCCO's Henry Lake. "I'm happy to have him remain here in Minnesota beyond this year."
The 36-year-old Conley is in his first full season with Minnesota, after arriving a little over a year ago in a trade with Utah just before the deadline.
"He is a part of one of the two or three trades in Wolves' history," says WCCO's Chad Hartman. "I wondered if he had slipped, I will fully admit that, I think his play with Utah warranted that a little bit. It's completely changed here. He has been a fantastic addition."
He’s currently making a little more than $24 million this season on a deal that was set to expire this summer, and this move is another signal that the club is all-in on trying to chase a title with the current core, even if it comes with a hefty luxury tax hit.
Karl-Anthony Towns has a contract that jumps up significantly next season, and Anthony Edwards new contract also kicks in pushing the team's payroll right up to the luxury tax threshold. This is a team that will have decisions to make.
"When you look at the number of players that have big contracts, you can also throw Jaden McDaniels in there and Rudy (Gobert), this is a win-now moment," explains the Star Tribune's Chip Scoggins who talked to Hartman Monday. "It's a heck of a lot easier to pay that luxury tax when you're contending for a championship compared to when you're not."
The four-time winner of the NBA Sportsmanship Award has provided the Timberwolves an invaluable dose of leadership, maturity and unselfishness for coach Chris Finch and the staff, plus career-best 44.2% shooting from 3-point range. That rate ranks ninth in the league.
“Last year I was coming in here almost deer in the headlights. I was trying to figure it out. It was fast and fast movement and trying to really mesh with everybody’s games as well. And now, I understand everybody on the team,” Conley said. “I understand Finch and what he wants to accomplish.”
His assist-to-turnover ratio (6.08) is the second-best in the NBA. His reunion with former Jazz teammate Rudy Gobert has also helped unlock the big man’s fullest offensive potential after a rocky debut season.
Most of all, Conley has stayed healthy, playing in 50 of 57 games for the Western Conference-leading Wolves (39-16). He has sat out a few times for rest, but mostly chafed at the idea when broached by the coaching staff.
“I don’t know how long I’m going to play, so every time I go out I’ve got to play as hard as I can, play as good as I can, give everything I’ve got, and hopefully it’s enough to win,” Conley said.
The Wolves return from the break Friday and host Milwaukee.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.