Minnesota walked a tightrope seemingly every time Mike Conley missed a game over the last month.

Two of the Wolves’ worst losses of the season — at home against Charlotte and on the road against San Antonio — came when Conley was out with a sore hamstring.

Jordan McLaughlin was the team’s lone other true point guard, and Timberwolves coach Chris Finch only really seemed to like playing McLaughlin in certain matchups. Without a floor general on the court, Minnesota’s decision-making and execution waned to new lows, creating a volatile range of basketball that spanned from elite to abhorrent.

That’s not ideal for a championship hopeful. Consistency can’t depend on the presence of one player — particularly a 36-year-old point guard.

Conley’s massive importance to the Wolves is both a credit to the floor general and an indictment on Minnesota. Which is why the front office felt compelled to bolster the position before last week’s trade deadline.

Enter Monte Morris.

The veteran guard has consistently sported assist-to-turnover numbers that rival Conley’s — Morris’ career assist-to-turnover ratio is 4.0-0.8, Conley’s is 5.7-1.9. He knows how to run an offense without being anywhere close to the focal point of it. And he seems to understand general team dynamics.

Which sounds a lot like Mike Conley.

“Imagine me being out there for 48 minutes, I guess,” Conley told reporters.

That sounds like Finch’s utopia.

“It’ll be more like that. And having his experience and his playmaking and his ability to be in the right spots at the right time and make winning plays,” Conley said. “That’s what we need. And that’s why they went out and got him.”

Because now, ideally, Minnesota’s on-court play won’t be so erratic when Conley isn’t on the floor — whether he’s missing a game or simply resting on the bench. Finch noted there’s plenty of opportunity for Morris to find minutes. His arrival could allow Minnesota to alleviate the minute load for Conley, Jaden McDaniels and even Anthony Edwards, who’ve been asked to carry a heavy burden of late.

Morris has the feel of a stabilizer, a player who won’t allow the train to veer too far off the rails before manually correcting course.

“He’s a winner. He just kind of makes the right play. Super solid, low turnover guy,” Finch told reporters. “He’s used to playing off of a lot of star players really well. I think it’s a fairly seamless partnership with Mike. It’s not like this other type of guard that you have to adjust to. Just his high basketball IQ, you can’t have enough of those guys.”

Morris noted he’s played against Conley on countless occasions — including in the playoffs — and the two would chat often during those contests.

“I’m still here to keep learning from him. That’s a great guy, great player to learn from. I just like the way he uses the pick-and-roll and can finish with both hands in the paint. He gets his team involved and brings guys together,” Morris said. “I feel like I can keep learning from a guy like that.”

And, Minnesota hopes, emulate him as closely as possible. Because 48 minutes of Mike Conley — or something close to it — may represent the Timberwolves’ best formula for success.

“He’s a guy I’ve competed against forever, and about as solid as they come all the way around. Can shoot the ball, defend, make plays, not turn it over. So that part of the game I don’t have to explain anything to him,” Conley said. “It’s about getting him up to speed on what we do, how best to fit in with the guys he’ll be on the court with, what Finchy is gonna expect, stuff like that. Guys are gonna welcome him in no problem. So he’ll fit right in. We’re excited to have him.”

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