Just 23 minutes into the start of free agency, the Minnesota Timberwolves re-signed guard Bones Hyland to a one-year minimum deal, as first reported by Jon Krawczynski. Hyland became a fan favorite after an unexpectedly productive season.
Re-signing Hyland is a smart move to keep some level of bench creation intact, and a minimum contract is great value for Minnesota after a promising 2025-26 season. Mike Conley and Kyle Anderson are the Wolves' two other free agents who need new deals.
At the time of writing this article, it remains to be seen if either of these players will be back in Minnesota. Given the timing, though, it's clear that Hyland was a priority among this bunch, and to me, that makes a lot of sense given his scoring abilities.
Re-signing Bones Hyland makes a ton of sense for the Timberwolves
Last season, Hyland averaged 8.5 points and 2.6 assists on 45.8/38.8/78 shooting splits. He provided a fairly regular scoring punch off the bench. While he, of course, plays a different position and role, the loss of Naz Reid made bench scoring a clear need for the Wolves.
Now, with Hyland officially back, he and Terrence Shannon Jr. can make for an intriguing one-two punch off the Wolves' bench.
As such, it makes sense to focus on re-signing Hyland over Conley and Anderson, who offer more connective skill sets.
Hyland did struggle mightily in the playoffs, averaging 4.6 points on 30 percent shooting from the field. Ultimately, this subpar play led to him falling out of the rotation and, frankly, likely cost him a good chunk of money.
Nevertheless, he is a quality microwave scorer, which is a necessary element for a fairly weak Wolves' bench.
It's also worth noting that Hyland helped the Wolves push the pace more this past season. Hyland and Ayo Dosunmu formed the dynamic backcourt pairing "Twin Turbos," nicknamed for their breakneck speed.
With LaMelo Ball in the mix, it's fair to expect the Wolves to further lean into this fast-paced identity, which makes re-signing Hyland even more logical.
The power forward position remains a glaring flaw for the Wolves, which they'll have to fill either in free agency or via the trade market. Now, one could argue that Anderson should have been the priority given this flaw. At the same time, the Wolves need floor spacing from this position, meaning Anderson might not be an ideal fit.
Overall, bringing Hyland back on an affordable one-year deal should be seen as a massive win for the Timberwolves given their need for bench scoring.
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