Mike Conley Jr. is reportedly set for his 20th NBA season with the Boston Celtics after agreeing to a one-year contract. The move comes as rumors persist that the Celtics are weighing a trade involving Jaylen Brown, and it lands Conley after a turbulent Minnes
Mike Conley Jr. didn’t just leave Minnesota. He left a season that kept changing shape around him.
Conley is reportedly heading to Boston for his 20th NBA season after reaching an agreement with the Boston Celtics on a one-year contract ahead of his age-39 campaign. The timing matters, because it arrives while the Celtics are dealing with ongoing rumors about possibly trading Jaylen Brown.
For Conley, the Celtics trip is also a fresh start after a difficult stretch with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He’s departing in free agency after a tumultuous third full season with the team. Minnesota had originally planned to keep him in the starting lineup. but shortly before the 2025-26 season opener. he was benched. Chris Finch decided to start Donte DiVincenzo at point guard instead.
From there, Conley’s role never settled. His playing time fluctuated across the season. At times, he fell out of the rotation altogether, then returned when the team needed him.
That volatility turned into sharp turns on the trade and contract front as well. Conley was traded at the February deadline as the Wolves tried to trim their luxury tax bill. He was dealt again and waived before re-signing in Minnesota for the veteran minimum.
When the season finally closed, Conley finished his third full season in Minnesota having appeared in 54 games with 15 starts. Over that span, he averaged career lows in points per game (4.5), minutes per game (18.4), and field-goal shooting percentage (33.5).
His performance did swing when opportunity opened up. Conley improved his efficiency when he was called on to help fill in for the Achilles injury suffered by DiVincenzo in the first round. In the playoffs, he shot 50 percent from the field while averaging 4.4 points through 12 playoff games and five starts. Minnesota’s run ended in the second round when the Wolves were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs.
Conley will turn 39 in October, and there was a steady thread behind the movement: he didn’t see this as a finish line. During his exit interviews in May, he said he didn’t plan to retire after his 19th NBA season.
Now he heads to Boston with a clear hope—getting a more consistent role in the Celtics’ backcourt. It’s an old stat line he’ll want to chase again: Conley is aiming to move closer to his career 43.6 percent shooting rate from the field.
Mike Conley Jr. Celtics Boston Celtics Jaylen Brown NBA free agency contract one-year deal Timberwolves Chris Finch Donte DiVincenzo playoff runs luxury tax