Perhaps Mike Conley’s departure will be short lived.

While a return is far from guaranteed, the pathway to one opened on Wednesday, a day after the Timberwolves dealt Conley to Chicago as part of a three-team deal that brought Minnesota nothing more than cash considerations and salary cap relief.

Conley was then dealt to Charlotte in a move that also sent Coby White — a once rumored deadline acquisition for Minnesota — to the Hornets.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 16: Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves walks to the locker room for half time during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on January 16, 2026 in Houston, Texas. User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

Charlotte is reportedly likely to buy Conley out of his contract, which would allow the veteran guard to hit the free-agent market. And because another trade has taken place since Minnesota dealt him, Conley, 38, would be eligible to re-sign with the Wolves.

A lot has to happen between now and then for that to happen. First, Charlotte and Conley would need to reach their buyout agreement. Charlotte could still, in theory, find a trade partner for Conley between now and Thursday’s 3 p.m. deadline.

But if a buyout occurred, Minnesota would need to deem Conley as the best man to fill the team’s open roster spot. Other options will exist, such as guard Lonzo Ball, who was reportedly traded from Cleveland to Utah on Wednesday and is expected to be waived by the Jazz.

Further, Conley would need to deem Minnesota as the best place to spend the remainder of his season. The Timberwolves have interest in welcoming the guard back on what would certainly be a pro-rated minimum contract, as the initial trade was merely to shed the remainder of his $10 million annual salary.

Conley is in Minnesota at the moment waiting to uncover his next true NBA destination. There certainly would be value for the veteran guard in re-joining his familiar teammates and organization. He knows his role and fit within the roster, and could resume his pursuit of a championship while remaining at home with his family.

But Conley had already heard from other players around the NBA as of Wednesday and is likely to have options to join other contenders. He’s the type of well-respected veteran every team would love to have.

Conley will have to at least briefly weigh other options — point guard-needy teams like Houston or Denver could serve as potential landing spots — before making a determination. And Minnesota’s roster remains in flux until a trade for Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo does or doesn’t happen on Thursday.

But a return would certainly be welcomed by the Wolves’ current players and coaches. Minnesota assistant coach Pablo Prigioni tweeted Wednesday morning that Conley is a “great player, huge impact on our team and a fantastic person.”

Speaking with reporters in Toronto, Wolves center Rudy Gobert said Conley’s departure was “tough.”

“We all know, we’re all aware it’s a business and those things can happen,” Gobert said. “But when it does happen, it’s always tough. For me, Mike has been a guy that I have a tremendous amount of respect for, and friendship and love for. So, obviously, this morning, you’re on the bus and you see an empty seat, it hits you a little bit.”

Donte DiVincenzo said he’d most miss Conley’s ear, noting he was always someone you could talk to for comfortable, constructive dialogue.

Gobert said Conley has been the example guys have needed, because the team knew he was going to compete, be there for his teammates and do anything he could to win — which is exactly the team identity for which the Wolves aim.

“He’s a guy that I think has brought a lot to this culture and this team, and whether he’s here or not … everything he has brought doesn’t leave with him,” Gobert said. “Hopefully, when we lift that trophy in June, he’ll be a big reason why.”

Who knows, maybe he’ll even be on the stage, lifting it along with them.

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Perhaps Mike Conley’s departure will be short-lived?

While a return is far from guaranteed, the pathway to one opened Wednesday, one day after Conley was dealt to Chicago as part of a three-team deal that brought the Timberwolves nothing more than cash considerations and salary cap.

Conley was dealt to Charlotte in a move that also sent Coby White – a once rumored deadline acquistion for Minnesota – to the Hornets.

Charlotte is likely to buy Conley out of his contract, which would allow the veteran guard to hit the free-agent market. And, because another trade had taken place since Minnesota dealt the 38-year-old, Conley would be eligible to re-sign with the Wolves.

A lot has to happen between now and then. First, Charlotte and Conley would need to reach their buyout agreement. Then, Minnesota would need to deem Conley as the best man to fill the team’s open roster spot, and Conley would need to deem Minnesota as the best place to spend the remainder of his season.

The Timberwolves have interest in welcoming the guard back on what would surely be a pro-rated minimum contract, as the initial trade was merely to shed the remainder of his $10 million annual salary.

Conley is in Minnesota at the moment waiting for his next true destination. There certainly would be value for the veteran guard in re-joining his familiar teammates and organization in the joint pursuit of a championship, all while staying at home with his family.

Brooklyn Nets’ Jalen Wilson (22) defends Minnesota Timberwolves’ Mike Conley (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at Barclays Center in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth came out on top in a crowded field of Republican candidates for governor in straw polls held across the state Tuesday night at GOP precinct caucuses.

Of the 12 candidates listed on the ballot, Demuth had around 32% of roughly 17,600 votes cast by Republican voters at local party gatherings across the state. Results were incomplete, but more than 96% of precincts had reported as of early Wednesday afternoon.

The straw poll offers an early look into the 2026 contest for the GOP endorsement, and could inform candidates on whether they should remain in the race. The party describes participants as representing “the most politically active Republicans in Minnesota” and calls the poll the “first major test of grassroots support.”

Precinct caucuses are often described as the starting line for Minnesota elections.

Other candidates

In second place was Kendall Qualls, who had close to 26% of caucus-goers’ support. Qualls sought the GOP endorsement in 2022 and previously ran for Congress. Mike Lindell, MyPillow CEO and noted supporter of President Donald Trump, had 17% support.

Scott Jensen, a doctor who rose to prominence for his criticism of state COVID policy, had 6% of the vote. None of the other candidates had more than 1,000 votes in the straw poll.

The others listed on the ballot included businessman Patrick Knight, state Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, and former St. Cloud City Council Member Jeff Johnson.

Besides the straw poll, precinct caucuses also elect convention delegates and consider changes to party platforms. It’s the first stop on the way to the state party conventions in May.

What’s next?

The first caucuses kick off a series of spring conventions of growing scale and stakes. The first will be local organizational conventions, which handle endorsements for state Legislative candidates. Then come Congressional District conventions, where party members endorse candidates for the U.S. House.

The Republicans’ statewide endorsement convention for governor is scheduled for the last weekend in May in Duluth. Candidates don’t always honor their party’s endorsement and will sometimes advance to the August primary election, which officially determines the party nominee. Demuth has pledged to honor her party’s endorsement, though other GOP candidates, such as Lindell, have left their options open.

In a statement late Tuesday, Demuth thanked caucus-goers for giving her and running mate Ryan Wilson a strong start.

“In just three months since I announced my campaign for governor, our team has focused our efforts on organizing and empowering Minnesotans who are looking for a strong conservative and proven leader to get our state back on track after two disastrous terms of Tim Walz,” she said, then turning to her new Democratic-Farmer-Labor opponent. “We know Amy Klobuchar would give us nothing more than a rubber stamp Walz third term.”

As of the beginning of 2026, Demuth had more money on hand than any other GOP candidate for governor, with around $447,000. Robbins had about $353,000, though she had raised and spent more than Demuth did in 2025. Qualls, Jensen, Knight and Lindell were the only other candidates who had raised or spent six-figure sums.

Demuth is campaigning on fighting fraud in state government, improving education outcomes, and taking a tougher stance on crime and public safety. When Gov. Tim Walz announced his would not seek reelection, he pledged to seek stronger gun control laws and resist the Trump administration.

The parties held straw polls for gubernatorial races during district caucuses but not other races.

DFL caucuses

The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party also held precinct caucuses Tuesday night, though they only have one major candidate for governor — U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

With 84% of precincts reporting as of early Wednesday afternoon, 79% of DFL caucus-goers supported her while 16% were uncommitted. The rest of the votes were write-ins, abstentions or in support of Christopher Seymore.

Klobuchar has performed well statewide in every election since she first won office in 2006 and has always led her Republican competitors by double-digit percentage margins. No Republican has won an election for statewide office since 2006.

While Klobuchar has not filed paperwork for her gubernatorial campaign committee yet — she officially entered the race in 2026 — she has a strong fundraising record. At the end of 2025, her Senate committee had more than $2 million on hand, according to Federal Election Commission filings. It had raised more than $2.4 million and had spent close to $2.2 million.

DFL Chair Richard Carlbom said he expected a significant turnout at Tuesday’s local party meetings as the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown continues in Minnesota, something he called an “unprecedented retribution campaign.”

Total attendance at DFL caucuses statewide was roughly 30,000, the party said, claiming that many were first-time attendees.

In response to Demuth’s win at the precinct caucuses, Carlbom tied the Republican frontrunner to Trump, describing her as having “fully embraced the most destructive Trump policies” like tariffs and a hardline stance on immigration.

“As Trump unleashed his retribution campaign on Minnesota, Demuth defended Donald Trump instead of her state and blamed local law enforcement for the crisis,” Carlbom said in a statement. “She has continued to chase Trump’s endorsement — even as his

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agenda increases prices and explodes health care costs for Minnesotans. Lisa Demuth has chosen Trump over our state, and Minnesotans won’t forget it.”

Minnesota’s teachers union and two school districts are suing to block immigration enforcement at public schools.

In a civil complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, plaintiffs Education Minnesota and Duluth and Fridley public schools argue the enforcement has “caused direct and irreparable harm to the abilities of school districts and educators to fulfill their functions — to educate children and to provide access to educational services and a safe learning environment.”

The lawsuit seeks to stop immigration enforcement at or within 1,000 feet of school property or school bus stops “absent a judicial warrant or genuinely exigent circumstances.”

The complaint names the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and several of the agencies’ national and local leaders.

DHS, when asked for comment on the lawsuit, sent a statement from Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

“ICE is not going to schools to arrest children — we are protecting children,” the statement read. “The Trump administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and instead trusts them to use common sense. If a dangerous illegal alien felon were to flee into a school, or a child sex offender is working as an employee, there may be a situation where an arrest is made to protect public safety. But this has not happened.”

Policy change

The lawsuit says DHS violated the Administrative Procedures Act when the agency rescinded its longstanding policy that designated schools and bus stops as a safe zone to be avoided when carrying out immigration enforcement. DHS did not engage in notice-and-comment rulemaking before repealing the policy in January 2025, as required by the federal law, and “should be enjoined from implementing it,” the complaint says.

The policy shift has led to school closures or a switch to remote learning — causing districts a loss of time and money — and a sharp drop in student attendance, according to the complaint.

“DHS’s presence in and near school property has created an atmosphere of fear, for native-born citizens, naturalized citizens and legally present immigrants alike,” the complaint states. “Parents across the state are afraid to send their children to school, and schools have had to adjust their programs.”

Fridley schools’ attendance rate has dropped nearly one-third during the enforcement surge and over 400 families have opted into remote learning, causing teachers to “divert hours of time from other tasks to create new curricula for remote learning,” according to the complaint.

Duluth schools’ administrators have spent nearly a third of their time on planning related to immigration activities, costing the district about $573,000 a month, the complaint says.

“Students can’t learn, and educators can’t teach, when there are armed, masked federal agents stationed within view of classroom windows, sometimes for days on end,” Monica Byron, the president of Education Minnesota, said in a statement. Education Minnesota is made up of 477 local unions, representing more than 84,000 members.

Incidents cited

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The complaint cites 14 enforcement incidents at or near schools or involving students and teachers.

They include the high-profile case of Christina Rank, an Inver Grove Heights paraprofessional at Concord Education Center who was arrested in the school’s parking lot after a car crash involving ICE agents on Jan. 12. Rank has since been charged in federal court, with the complaint alleging she followed ICE agents from the school parking lot, drove into an oncoming lane and across the parking lot entrance at the same time the officers were turning into the lot, causing the collision.

Wednesday’s lawsuit says immigration agents pulled over two vans contracted by St. Paul schools to carry students and staff on Jan. 15, and that agents were in the parking lots at Little Canada Elementary School and Roseville Education Center on Jan. 21.