Mike Conley will be a free agent soon, and he’s just the player the Atlanta Hawks need.
After being traded to the Chicago Bulls, Brian Windhorst reported that Conley would likely be bought out. This would allow Conley to enter the open free agent market and sign with a team, though he may draw limited interest.
To be blunt, Conley’s best days are behind him. Over 18.8 minutes a night, he’s averaged 4.4 points a night on 32.1% from deep and a ghastly 32.6% on two pointers. Timberwolves fans, while thankful for his past contributions to the franchise, were desperate to move on from him. He simply isn’t cut out to have a major role on a playoff team at 38 years old.
This is why he’s a perfect fit in Atlanta.
The Hawks’ roster is filled to the brim with young talent. Outside of Luke Kennard, CJ McCollum, and Kristaps Porzingis, all of the players on the squad are almost certainly part of the team’s long-term future. There isn’t much room to add talent without removing valuable reps from a youngster.
What the Hawks lack is a “vet.” Take Garrett Temple in Toronto as an example of just how important this can be; while he’s only played 36 minutes all season, he’s arguably one of the Raptors’ most important players by virtue of his locker room presence. Toronto has brought him back for three consecutive seasons despite never averaging over 3.5 points a game for the team. They see how valuable he is, and they’ve kept him around as a result.
Mike Conley would be the perfect vet
Conley has been known for many things over his NBA career, but most importantly for Atlanta, he’s just a good guy.
He holds the record for most NBA Sportsmanship Awards, winning four over his 19-year career – the Kareem of sportsmanship, if you will. In fact, in his over 37,000 minutes played in the NBA, Conley has never even received a technical foul.
Conley has also been a valuable leader at every stop. In Memphis, he was the cool head among the tough grit and grind Grizzlies. In Utah, he found synergy with Jazz star Donovan Mitchell – a feat no other point guard can claim. In Minnesota, he was an important stabilizing presence who the team avoided trading even when he was clearly not fit for his role.
If Atlanta signs Conley, I would hope he doesn’t play much. Instead, I would want him to sign a minimum and nest his way into the team. Allow him to develop friendships with his new teammates and share the wisdom he has acquired that helped him become a 19-year pro. Perhaps if the Hawks have an empty roster spot next offseason, he can continue his role as a mentor for another season.
It isn't the sexiest signing, but Udonis Haslem and Temple are prime examples of how valuable a good vet can be.