With Indiana’s historically cheap ownership, they look to offload T.J. McConnell’s contract along with Jarace Walker to Minnesota in exchange for Mike Conley and Rob Dillingham. In my opinion, no draft picks are needed.

From Indiana’s perspective, despite T.J. being a fan favourite, that sentiment clearly doesn’t carry much weight if ownership views his contract as too expensive. By moving both T.J. and Jarace, Indiana shifts toward a more streamlined, playoff-ready roster. When Haliburton returns and they push for the postseason, this trade helps them settle into a defined 8–9 man rotation rather than playing 11 guys in a single playoff game. They acquire Mike Conley, who brings leadership, experience, and the ability to give 15 solid minutes off the bench while knocking down a few threes. They also take on Rob Dillingham, an extremely raw prospect they can afford to develop over the three-year span of his rookie contract. The idea of a fully healthy Haliburton alongside a fully realized Rob Dillingham down the line is genuinely exciting.

For Minnesota, it may initially seem like they’re giving up a valuable asset in a former 8th overall pick from just two years ago. However, the reality is that Rob hasn’t quite lived up to expectations yet, and the Timberwolves are firmly in a win-now window. While they sacrifice Mike Conley’s veteran leadership, they gain T.J. McConnell’s relentless effort on both ends of the floor, along with Jarace Walker. Jarace’s time in Indiana hasn’t worked out at all, but in Minnesota—where they desperately need a true backup power forward—it becomes a now-or-never opportunity for him.