Jaylen Clark may have the early edge over Bones Hyland when the Minnesota Timberwolves sort out their bench rotation.
Two reserve spots already look spoken for. Ayo Dosunmu and Joan Beringer appear set for steady minutes, but there’s still a cluster of players fighting for the rest of the rotation, and Finch addressed two of the main names in that mix during a sit-down with Britt Robson: Hyland and Clark.
Finch’s message to Hyland was straightforward. “Well, for me Bones has to continue to lean into defense as best he can,” Finch said.
“With him, it is about establishing as much of a physical presence as he can. What we see now in the West is physical guards who just put their shoulder down and it doesn’t matter who or how, somebody gets that matchup, and you have to show more resilience there.
You just have to.”
His comments on Clark carried a different tone.
“And Jaylen, there’s nothing. I’m a huge Jaylen fan.
Always have been. And we know what the numbers say when he plays.
Jaylen has to continue to improve his defense against number-one options. He’s good, but he has to study a little bit more, learn a little bit more, the nuance.
How to guard these guys is not easy."
Finch was critical of both, but the warning shot seemed louder for Hyland, who may have a harder time carving out a role if his defense doesn’t hold up.
Hyland, who recently turned 26, brings speed and shot creation. He’s been able to score in a hurry and put pressure on defenses throughout his career.
But his size has always been part of the problem. At 6-foot-2 and 169 pounds, there’s only so much physicality he can add, even if that’s the exact area Finch wants him to attack.
That defensive issue is a familiar one. It played a big part in why Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers moved away from him, and it showed again in last season’s playoffs when his shot stopped falling and Finch pulled him from the rotation. With LaMelo Ball now in the picture, the Timberwolves also don’t need Hyland’s particular skill set as much, which only strengthens Clark’s case.
Clark, who turns 25 next month, has built his reputation on defense. He’s only two seasons into his NBA career, with his first year wiped out by injury after he was drafted, so there’s still room for growth. His energy and edge can get him in foul trouble, though he did commit fewer fouls in 2025-26 than he did the year before.
If Clark can keep sharpening his defense against elite perimeter scorers and become the kind of stopper who can handle the opponent’s best guard or wing, he can push toward a permanent role despite what he doesn’t provide offensively.
Both players should get chances at some point. But with training camp approaching, Clark appears to be sitting ahead of Hyland for now. That can change.
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