Timberwolves To Sign Bones Hyland, Promote Jaylen Clark

Once Clark is officially promoted to the 15-man roster, Minnesota will use their open two-way contract slot to sign free agent guard Bones Hyland, according to Hyland’s agent, Austin Walton.

Despite being above the second tax apron, which limits their ability to offer more than a minimum salary, Minnesota will extend a fully guaranteed two-year contract to Clark.

Clark, the 53rd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft out of UCLA, spent his rookie season recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The Timberwolves, aware of the injury, were patient, with president of basketball operations Tim Connelly describing him in June 2023 as “the best perimeter defender in the draft.” Clark was signed to a two-way contract after being drafted.

Having recovered from the Achilles injury, Clark played primarily for the Iowa Wolves in the G League to start the 2024/25 season. However, he has since proven himself as a role player for Minnesota, logging double-digit minutes in each of the Timberwolves’ past 13 games.

He is averaging 6.5 points per game while shooting 47.6% from the field, 44.4% from three-point range, and 75% from the free-throw line. Clark has also played excellent defense, holding opponents to 41% shooting when contesting shots, according to Charania.

Hyland, selected by the Nuggets with the 26th overall pick in the 2021 draft, spent part of his career under Connelly, who was running Denver’s front office at the time.

The former VCU standout showed promise as a scorer, averaging 10.9 points per game and shooting 37.1% from three during his season-and-a-half with the Nuggets. However, after struggles with defense and his role, he was traded to the Clippers at the 2023 deadline.

Hyland struggled to find consistent footing in Los Angeles, playing in just 71 games over two years while averaging 7.8 points per game. He was traded to Atlanta earlier this month as part of the Terance Mann/Bogdan Bogdanovic deal and was waived shortly after. Given the previous connection between Connelly and Hyland, the Timberwolves’ pursuit of a reunion makes sense.

This will be Hyland’s fourth year in the NBA, making him eligible for a two-way deal, the last year of his eligibility for such contracts. Once these roster moves are finalized, Minnesota will have a full 18-man roster, consisting of 15 standard contracts and three two-way contracts.