The Minnesota Timberwolves have a summer of key decisions as Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are all likely free agents. Randle and Reid have player options that they are expected to opt out of, while Alexander-Walker is an unrestricted free agent. In the mix of these crucial decisions, Bones Hyland's pending free agency is easy to forget about.
Hyland signed a two-way contract with the Wolves in February. While he didn't play much of a role with Minnesota, only appearing in four games, his skill set could be valuable. It will be interesting to see what the Wolves do with the restricted free agent.
Should the Wolves re-sign Hyland?
Hyland appeared in four games with the Wolves, recording averages of 4.3 minutes, 1.3 points, and an assist. However, for his career, Hyland averages 9.5 points and 2.6 assists in 17.1 minutes per game. In his first two seasons with the Denver Nuggets, he averaged 10.9 points. The 6-foot-2 guard's best trait is undoubtedly his ability to score in bunches. Hyland is a classic microwave bench scorer. In the G League, Hyland showcased this upside, averaging an absurd 33.5 points per game.
Unfortunately, throughout Hyland's career, the question has been whether he can contribute outside of scoring. While Hyland is a good ball handler and has shown the ability to be a capable passer at times, he often gets tunnel vision. Defensively, he is a net negative and an easy target given his size.
Nevertheless, the Wolves could use another perimeter shot-creator off the bench. Additionally, at 24, it's possible the former first-round pick can get his career back on track. The problem is that Mike Conley and Rob Dillingham will take priority over Hyland in the rotation. Even if he's brought back, his role will be limited. If the Wolves add another point guard in the draft or free agency, it will likely be one with more size, since Conley and Dillingham are small guards. Given his lack of size and not getting much opportunity with the Wolves, Hyland might not be re-signed.
As a restricted free agent, the Wolves will be able to match any offer for Hyland. He is unlikely to have a robust market, so the Wolves could bring him back if they want to. Ultimately, while Hyland's role will be limited, he could be worth bringing back as a depth piece with some scoring and creation upside.