Rumors: Hyland to Timberwolves? Not at that asking price. . .

The Minnesota Timberwolves are not the only team up against the NBA Trade Deadline. There are a number of NBA teams that are trying to secure players for long-term contracts. For those who are not willing to sign on the dotted line? Their exit ramp ends on February 9, 2023, as that is when the NBA rules insist that it’s “pencils down,” for teams who are negotiating deals to send their players or picks to another team in the hopes of improving their own roster.

One such team is the Denver Nuggets, a team that has been mentioned in the past as a potential suitor for the services of Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid. In that trade scenario, the exchange in the suggested scenario was a one-for-one player exchange, Naz Reid to the Denver Nuggets, and Bones Hyland to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Looks like the Denver Nuggets are getting greedy:

That tweet leads to an interesting article that does mention a Timberwolves rumor.

A recent article by Jake Fisher of Yahoo Sports has indicated that the Nuggets asking price for Bones Hyland is too rich for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and for most NBA teams, right now. In his article, Fisher states:

"In exchange for Hyland, the Nuggets have expressed an interest in defensive-minded frontcourt players, sources said, and will search for a player plus a first-round pick.”- Per Jake Fisher of Yahoo Sports"

Unless that price is very negotiable, the Minnesota Timberwolves simply do not have that type of capital available for a trade for Bones Hyland. Nor would the team be wise to do so. Hylands has been primarily a backup point guard, and that asking price is firmly set for a starting NBA point guard who is well-established and could become an All-Star.

Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly originally draft Hyland to the Nuggets, and that has created a natural link between Hyland and the Timberwolves. But the Timberwolves do not have a first-round pick to spare right now, and I’m not sure that if they did that Bones Hyland is the right player to spend it on.

The NBA Trade Deadline is just two weeks away, and situations can change rapidly. But for now, the Nuggets may be asking for a player and a first-round pick. The Minnesota Timberwolves simply don’t have it to spend right now.