The Minnesota Timberwolves made their decision to re-sign Bones Hyland public on Monday. This might seem like a bit of a confusing move to make, but I think there's a few explanations we can reasonably point to.
As with any Wolves roster transaction, the first question on the flow chart is always this: was this player drafted by Tim Connelly, either in Minnesota or elsewhere? When you recognize the answer to that question is yes, you start to realize that at least part of this decision was likely due to the fact that Connelly has historically been very loyal to his guys.
Hyland was taken with the 26th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft in what would be one of Connelly's last selections as General Manager of the Denver Nuggets, given that he left for the Timberwolves the following spring. Bones bounced around to the Los Angeles Clippers and then to Minnesota, where he fell under the watchful eye of Connelly yet again.
Only playing in four games in a Wolves uniform this past season, I think most people assumed Hyland would be waived at some point this offseason. But true to form, Tim Connelly wanted him on board for one more go-around.
Bones Hyland's return likely means a few things
Beyond the influence of Connelly being a reason this happened, we also have to consider what the front office and coaching staff were thinking when they took into account bringing back Hyland. They of course know that Chris Finch isn't going to play him big minutes, so there's at least one other thing they had in mind here.
My first guess would be that it's another indicator in the belief they have in Rob Dillingham. Minnesota's lack of backup ball-handlers behind Mike Conley (aside from Donte DiVincenzo, I'm talking more traditional point guard roles here) is probably the most obvious thing about this roster right now.
So the Timberwolves were either going to have to add another bigger-name ball-handler from the free agent market this summer, or focus more heavily on internal growth and development. It's clear that they're going with the latter at this point.
Once guys like Malcolm Brogdon went off the market, there were much fewer options for Minnesota to work with. That likely forced them to ask some important questions, and it looks like the determination they came to is that they're going to give the young Dillingham his chance.
At that point, there was no need to go out and add another player at all. Just roll with Bones Hyland as an insurance plan in case something goes wrong, and this roster is basically set for this coming season.