Mike Conley's return to the Timberwolves is a bigger deal than it seems (2024)

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What’s up, hoops fans. Welcome back to Layup Lines. I appreciate you for tapping back in today, especially if you’re a Minnesota Timberwolves fan. Things haven’t exactly been going according to plan for that team.

After starting the season 6-3, last year’s Western Conference runners-up have lost six of their last eight games including three straight after Tuesday night’s loss to the Houston Rockets. They’re now 8-9 and under .500 for the first time since starting the season 0-1, and they’ll be lacing ’em up again tonight for a meeting with the Sacramento Kings.

Another loss would give Minnesota its worst 18-game start to the season since Anthony Edwards’ was a rookie in 2020-21. Thankfully, reinforcements are on the way. Mike Conley is expected back Wednesday after missing the last three games with a toe sprain.

OK, yeah, go ahead and laugh it up. Conley is 37 years old, six-feet tall and averaging a career-low 7.5 points on a career-low 32% from the field while playing a career-low 25 minutes. Some reinforcements, huh?

But you can’t argue with the results. Despite Conley’s ignorable base stats, he’s had a significant impact on his team. And that’s beyond Minnesota’s 0-4 record when he doesn’t play and 8-5 record when he does.

Mike Conley is off the Wolves Injury Report, and expected to make his return tonight

Timberwolves are 8-5 when MC plays this season

Timberwolves are 0-4 when he doesn't play pic.twitter.com/KRSUSz4hi2

— Wolves Lead (@TWolvesLead) November 27, 2024

Minnesota’s net rating is 6.4 points per 100 possessions better when Conley is on the floor, according to Cleaning the Glass, which is the team’s third-best on/off number and second-best among starters behind Rudy Gobert. That translates to about 16 more wins with Conley than without.

His presence is especially good for the team’s best player, Edwards, who averages 7.18 points per 100 possessions more when Conley is on the floor, according to PBP Stats — the team’s second-biggest jump with Conley on the floor behind reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Naz Reid. Edwards and Reid also see an uptick in three-point percentage with Conley around to organize the offense, and they’re not the only ones.

3 point percentages of a few guys when Mike Conley is on the floor this season … and when he’s not

DiVincenzo
W/ Mike: 43.8
W/O Mike: 27.9

Jaden
W/ Mike: 35.2
W/O Mike: 24.3

Naz
W/ Mike: 53.8
W/O Mike: 34.3

Ant
W/ Mike: 48.4
W/O Mike: 39.6

— Jace frederick (@JaceFrederick) November 27, 2024

Not everyone is convinced Conley is a viable solution for the Wolves’ point guard problem. Zach Lowe said on X it’s still something to team needs to address. But even if Conley isn’t the answer, that player might still be on the team, and he’ll need Conley to maximize his potential.

Rookie Rob Dillingham gained valuable experience filling in for Conley the last two games, and showed flashes of what he can bring after finally seeing some real minutes. Best of all, Conley appeared to be his biggest supporter.

Rob Dillingham saw the biggest opportunity of his young NBA career Tuesday night and showcased what he could, in time, bring to this Timberwolves team.

Playmaking vision, downhill burst, shooting and quick decision-making would all boost Minnesota's offense: pic.twitter.com/IrtCds0zxo

See Also

NeurIPS 2024 Workshops

— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) November 27, 2024

Rob Dillingham awesome defense, Mike Conley watches proudly pic.twitter.com/8nUaepk6QT

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) November 27, 2024

That’s why Conley’s return is so important. It’s one thing for him to tell Dillingham how to run an offense. It’s another thing for him to show him. And if Dillingham is Minnesota’s future point guard, there aren’t many better bridge players than Conley, who still clearly helps the Wolves win in the meantime.

More players returning, including Lonzo Ball

Mike Conley isn’t the only player expected to make his return to the floor soon. Several other teams also have stars coming back who can make significant impacts.

Lonzo Ball

After missing the last two seasons with knee issues, Ball returned to play three games this year before spraining his wrist. He’s expected back from that latest injury Wednesday against the Orlando Magic.

Khris Middleton

Middleton recently completed 5-on-5 scrimmages with the Milwaukee Bucks, ESPN Shams Charania reported, and he’s expected to make his season debut some time after Thanksgiving. His return will come just as Milwaukee is hitting its stride with a five-game winning streak.

Dejounte Murray

Murray is expected to make his return to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday after fracturing his hand in the season opener. His return will follow CJ McCollum, who came back earlier this week after missing a month of action.

Not listed here are Joel Embiid and Paul George, who have both been ruled out for Wednesday’s game against the Houston Rockets — a game the 3-13 Philadelphia 76ers desperately need to win

Shootaround

— Kalbrosky: Dylan Harper is the most exciting prospect in the 2025 draft

— Have you ever seen a wine glass as big as Yao Ming’s? Blake Schuster did some investigative journalism to find out just how big it is

— USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings weren’t kind to the 76ers

— HoopsHype interviewed Heat rookie Pelle Larsson

That’s all for today, folks. Have a happy Thanksgiving and make sure those leftovers are gone by the time we talk again next Wednesday.