Celtics have a Mike Conley temptation they should resist this season

The Boston Celtics lost Jaylen Brown, but they added three new veterans in Paul George, Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley this summer. 

Of those three, Conley has the most extensive experience in the NBA. Be that as it may, the team must avoid falling for the temptation that his stature naturally brings to the surface this coming season.

Conley recently said in the team's introductory presser that he still has a lot left in the tank. Even if that were to be proved true, the Celtics would be much better off taking that with a grain of salt and prioritizing playing their younger guards over the 19-year veteran.

This past season, Conley profusely showed his age on the court. He started the campaign off still starting games for the Timberwolves, but he eventually ended up getting demoted to the bench, turning in the worst numbers in his career across the board.

Celtics should not prioritize Mike Conley over their younger guards

Conley is not a terrible guard to have as an emergency option, but his role this coming season should remain faithful to that kind of designation. There is no scenario where it would be acceptable for Joe Mazzulla and his staff to play him over the likes of Baylor Scheierman and Ron Harper Jr., who both showed real flashes last season.

The respected veteran's contribution to the team next season should primarily come as him being a voice of reason in the locker room. If it comes to a point where he logs considerable minutes on a nightly basis, that would presuppose that the Celtics are in an icky situation. 

Conley is clearly on the final fringes of his career. However, the Celtics should want no part of forcibly trying to reverse the natural process of aging in the league at the expense of their younger players' continuous development.