The summer was nearly over last September 15 when the Minnesota Timberwolves finally brought back Bones Hyland on a minimum contract for one year. It had been rumored for weeks that they would use one of their open roster spots on the 6-for-2 guard. This was despite him barely being used by the Wolves after joining the team on a two-way deal in February of 2025.
While Bones was eventually taken out of this year's playoff rotation against the San Antonio Spurs, that shouldn’t take away the season he had coming mostly off the bench for Minnesota. I think there’s a very good chance that he returns to the Wolves next season, but even if he doesn’t, he won’t have to wait until mid-September to sign a contract again.
Bones proved to be a great re-signing for Minnesota
The Bones Hyland experience was a great story this season for a player who looked like he might be close to being out of the league. Two teams (the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers) had basically given up on him. Bones played a grand total of just 17 minutes over four games after joining the Timberwolves late last season.
That’s why many were so confused as to why Minnesota seemed so intent on bringing him back. It proved to be a wise move as very few players on minimum deals, like he was, were as productive. In 71 regular season outings, he posted averages of 8.5 points and 2.6 assists while connecting on 38.8 percent of his 3-point tries. Hyland had six outings of at least 20 points after combining for just three such games in the previous two years.
The 25-year-old’s playoff run wasn’t nearly as good, but he certainly proved over the course of the year that he belongs in the NBA. Hyland stated in his exit interview that he “definitely wants to come back” to the Timberwolves.
With Donte DiVincenzo out with a torn Achilles, they could sure use the guard depth and his 3-point prowess off the bench once again.
You hate to say the subpar postseason may have cost Hyland some money, but that might be the case. It should allow the Timberwolves (or someone else) to sign him for less than the taxpayer MLE, maybe slightly more than the veteran’s minimum.
Bones will get another contract, though, and in all likelihood, he will get to sign it much earlier in the summer than last year.
Add us as a preferred source on Google