The Minnesota Timberwolves have had a fairly quiet offseason, which mainly involved re-signing Julius Randle and Naz Reid. However, they still have two open roster spots. Recently signed, Johnny Juzang will compete for one of these spots at training camp and will likely prevent the Wolves from signing more than one player to standard deals.
According to The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski, Minnesota has explored signing Malcolm Brogdon, Cam Payne, and Landry Shamet, but Bones Hyland remains the front-runner for the open spot. Hyland was on a two-way contract with the Wolves at the end of last season. However, he only played in four games and a total of 17 minutes for the Minnesota squad. Bringing back Hyland would be a cost-effective way to bolster their guard depth while keeping the theme of continuity.
"The Wolves have looked into several candidates for the spot, including Malcolm Brogdon, Cam Payne and Landry Shamet, Krawczynski reported. However, all indications are that Bones Hyland is the front-runner to get that final spot, league sources said. Hyland signed a two-way contract with the Wolves in February, played briefly in Iowa and spent the rest of his time with the Timberwolves."
Rounding out the roster with Hyland would make sense
While signing a high-quality veteran like Brogdon is intriguing if the Wolves really wanted to, they probably would have by now. Furthermore, there's a clear risk with signing him, financially, he could demand more than a veteran minimum, which could push the Wolves over (or close to) the second-apron, and he could stunt Rob Dillingham's development. It's also worth noting that Brogdon has a lengthy injury history. These factors are likely why the Wolves haven't signed him and seem to be leaning toward Hyland.
Payne or Shamet would likely slide into a depth role on a minimum contract. However, the Wolves have adamantly prioritized continuity this summer, which is likely why they appear to be favoring Hyland. Both former Knicks guards could still be a nice low-risk addition to the Wolves' bench if they opt not to sign Hyland.
While Hyland hasn't played much in the last couple of years, the soon-to-be 25-year-old has some level of upside. Additionally, in his first two seasons, Hyland played a significant role with the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers. He notably averaged 10.9 points off the bench during this time. Hyland is a microwave three-level scorer who can provide minutes if injuries arise.
The Wolves believe that their continuity is a significant strength, and if they indeed sign Hyland, that belief will only be clearer. It might seem like a minor move, but bringing back Hyland could end up being the perfect way for the Wolves to round out their roster.