Celtics Ask Mike Conley to Fill New Preseason Role

NBA.com reports, citing The Athletic, that the Boston Celtics have asked Mike Conley to fill a new role during preseason. The statistical backdrop makes this an intriguing fit question: Conley’s latest season averages suggest the discussion should center less on scoring volume and more on how his contributions could translate to a different assignment.

Across 66 games, Conley averaged 4.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists. That is a modest scoring profile, with his assist production offering another dimension to consider. It does not establish what Boston’s request entails, but it provides a useful lens: evaluating Conley strictly by points would leave part of his statistical contribution out of the picture.

The shooting numbers add a caution. Conley finished at 36.0% from the field and 35.9% from three-point range. Those percentages alone do not establish how frequently he took either kind of shot, and the three-point mark should not be stretched into a promise of offensive impact. Any scoring expectations need to stay grounded in that 4.5-point average.

The compelling angle, then, is how the assignment fits his statistical profile rather than an expectation of reinvention. Boston’s preseason request invites a closer look at how Conley might contribute beyond scoring. His numbers offer reasons to examine that possibility, not a guarantee of what comes next.