The Minnesota Timberwolves are among the teams in the league to have made minimal changes to their roster over the course of the offseason. Although they have been linked to free agent guards recently, the Wolves are reported to be in active discussions to re-sign Bones Hyland, per The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer. He wrote:
“Minnesota has two open spots and the Timberwolves, sources say, would like to have Bones Hyland back in the fold.”
Hyland was last under contract with the Los Angeles Clippers when they exercised their team option for the 2024-25 season. After being traded to the Atlanta Hawks, the guard was promptly waived, with the remainder of his contract stretched over the next five years.
As a free agent, the former first-round pick signed a two-way deal with the Timberwolves. While Hyland only made four appearances with the Wolves in the regular season, it appears that he made enough of an impact for Minnesota to consider bringing him back on a more significant contract.
Hyland’s last significant contract was valued at $4.16 million. Given the impact a buyout could have on future deals, the Wolves could benefit from bringing him back on a team-friendly agreement.
Given the small sample size with the Clippers and the Wolves, it is challenging to gauge what the 24-year-old would bring to the table for Minnesota. But considering his performances with the Nuggets, it is evident that the young guard has significant offensive potential.
In his rookie season, Hyland showcased the ability to be productive, even in limited minutes. While averaging 19.0 minutes per game off the bench, the guard posted 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, on 40.3% shooting from the field and 36.6% shooting from three-point range.
In his sophomore year, he displayed tangible growth, averaging 11.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game. But after being traded to the Clippers in his third season, the marked reduction in playing time led to stagnation and an eventual drop-off in production.
Even in the 2024-25 season, with the Clippers, he recorded only 11.1 minutes per game. Still, he put up averages of 7.2 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. This is an impressive feat for a player receiving limited playing time.
Adding Hyland to the roster would be greatly beneficial for the Timberwolves, who will require a backup point guard to support veteran Mike Conley. With talented young guards like Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. also on the roster, the Wolves’ guard depth could help them sustain their momentum over the course of the regular season.
