With the start of the NBA season just over a month away, the Minnesota Timberwolves still don't have their roster finalized. Notably, they have two open roster spots. However, Johnny Juzang is set to compete for one of these spots, and Bones Hyland, who remains unsigned, is reportedly set to occupy the other standard spot.
It's entirely possible that Juzang doesn't make the final roster and the Wolves keep a spot open for some extra flexibility. Regardless, Hyland seems to be guaranteed the other spot per The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski. This is despite rumored interest in Malcolm Brogdon and Malik Beasley.
The Wolves training camp starts on September 29, meaning it's likely that Hyland will be signed before that date. By all accounts, the Wolves' signing Hyland is a certainty, and it's only a matter of time before a deal gets done.
In his original report, last month, Krawczynski noted that it's possible Hyland isn't signed until September. While the Wolves have waited to finalize their roster, it would be shocking if they went into training camp with Hyland unsigned.
Signing Hyland is logical for the Wolves
At face value, someone like Brogdon or Beasley could provide more high-quality minutes than Hyland. However, the Wolves need a pure depth piece, and Hyland is perfect for that. This offseason, head coach Chris Finch mentioned that the Wolves are looking to expand their rotation to up to 10 players. Still, those 10 players are already on the roster with Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, Terrence Shannon Jr., Rob Dillingham, and Jaylen Clark all having some role off the bench.
The Wolves need to see what they have with their young talent, and signing a veteran who will take away minutes from one of the three young guys isn't ideal. Hyland is the perfect depth piece to round out the roster. Minnesota picked up Hyland at the end of last season. The 6-foot-2 guard was on a two-way contract playing just four games, averaging 4.3 minutes, 1.3 points with the Minnesota squad.
While Hyland is a depth piece, he can play minutes in a pinch if need be. Notably, the VCU product averaged 19.2 minutes and 10.9 minutes in his first two seasons in the NBA. Additionally, point guard is a clear position of need for the Wolves with Dillingham and Mike Conley being the team's lone two point guards. With Conley turning 38 before the start of the season, it's likely he'll have a reduced role, and he could sit out on back-to-backs. As a result, Hyland could get a real chance with the team.
Overall, while the Wolves still haven't finalized their roster based on Krawczynski's reporting from last month, Hyland will earn a roster spot, and with training camp on the horizon, a move feels fairly imminent.