It seemed crazy that Bones Hyland wasn’t on an NBA team, and perhaps it was because it sounds like that’s about to come to an end. Jake Fischer reported on Friday that the Minnesota Timberwolves have two open roster spots and “would like to have Bones Hyland back in the fold.”
Hyland was drafted 26th overall by the Nuggets in 2021 and starred as a rookie, scoring over 10 points a game and making 69 appearances plus playoffs. He was up to 12.1 points a game in year two, but he wore out his welcome quickly and was traded to the Clippers at the 2023 deadline as Denver went on to win the title.
Bones could latch on in LA and was eventually traded again, before being waived, and signed to a two-way deal last year by the Timberwolves, where he played mostly in the G-League. But there has been zero buzz around the 24-year-old scoring guard until this latest report by Fischer.
Hyland deserves another shot in the NBA
It was a pretty crazy fall off for Hyland, who came into the year looking like a future star. It wasn’t long ago that he was putting up big numbers and highlights, and at such a young age, he’s certainly a guy worth taking a chance on.
The talent is there, and while he’s undersized, he can make up for it in other ways. Now, whether he has the right mindset and work ethic to make up for his lack of size is another question. When the Nuggets were in the heat of pursuing a title, they decided they’d rather not have him around.
That’s obviously not a great look for the young player, and since leaving, things haven’t gotten better at all. But he’s young enough that one could hope this humbling journey out of the league so quickly may be a great learning experience to show him what it will take to hack it if he gets another chance.
Hyland needs a chance to grow and develop on a rebuilding team
On paper, the Wolves aren’t an ideal fit for Hyland, who needs an opportunity to grow through some of his warts. But Minnesota is short on guards and ballhandlers, so Bones could have an easier path to minutes than it may seem. If he can take advantage and impact winning, that would go a long way towards having a long career in the NBA.
If he shows well, it could also lead to his inclusion in a trade for veteran help as the Wolves look to win now. Maybe that leads Hyland to a better situation where he can learn and play some pressure-free minutes and continue to grow as a player.