The Timberwolves have no shortage of backcourt options as they sort out the early-season rotation, and that makes the fight for minutes a real one. For a player like Bones Hyland, that competition could turn into a quick squeeze if he doesn’t stay consistent.
Hyland can absolutely give Minnesota a jolt. He flashed that in the Timberwolves’ 125-124 preseason win over the Miami Heat, finishing with 23 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in 21 minutes while hitting five of his six three pointers. When the shot is there, the scoring pops.
But that kind of night is only part of the equation. Once the regular season starts, one strong outing won’t lock in a role. Hyland will have to show he can do more than just fire away.
There is a path for him to stick in the second unit. He can create his own shot, stretch the floor and give Minnesota another player who can generate offense when the starters sit. That kind of burst could help him earn more of head coach Chris Finch’s trust.
The problem is what happens when the jumper isn’t falling. That’s where moving the ball, making quick reads and staying locked in defensively become part of the job. If Hyland can’t help in those areas, Finch could lean toward a reserve who fits the group better or brings more versatility.
He is not short on competition. Ayo Dosunmu is an elite scorer and just got paid a massive contract this offseason.
He also came through in the postseason, especially in Game 4 when the Wolves were dealing with multiple injuries in the backcourt and he poured in 43 points in a key win. Terrence Shannon Jr. brings a different kind of threat with his athleticism and ability to attack the basket.
Jaylen Clark, though more of a forward, is also expected to get bench minutes because of his freak athleticism on defense that really gives some teams serious problems.
Hyland doesn’t need to turn himself into a 20-point-a-night scorer. The opportunity won’t be there for that with this much depth in the backcourt. What Minnesota needs from him is a dependable reserve who can make a real impact without forcing shots, turning the ball over or throwing the offense out of rhythm.
That means taking open looks with confidence, reacting well when defenses take away his first option and competing on the defensive end despite his lack of size. If he can do that while keeping his shooting intact, he has a chance to hold onto steady minutes.
There is also a clearer need for that kind of shot-making. Without Donte DiVincenzo for a while and after losing Naz Reid this offseason, the Wolves need more three-point shooting off the bench.
Still, Hyland is the pick here to be among the first Timberwolves players to see his minutes cut if the rotation tightens up. Minnesota has four clear guards ahead of him at all times, and that’s before DiVincenzo returns. If Hyland doesn’t contribute when the shot isn’t dropping, his role could disappear fast.
That doesn’t make him a non-factor. The preseason proved he can swing a game. It just means he has to show he can bring more than scoring if he wants to keep carving out real time.
In Other News...
Shaq Just Put Minnesotas LaMelo Ball Situation Under A Real Spotlight
LaMelo Balls recent turn on Inside the NBA offered a window into how he views his first season with the Timberwolves, and it was pretty simple: he is not walking around with a rigid set of team goals. Ball said he prefers to focus on bringing his best effort, a measured answer that fits a player still settling into a new situation while also talking about life off the court, from changing his sons diapers to getting a feel for playing alongside Anthony Edwards.
Shaquille ONeal, though, clearly saw it differently and used the segment to put Minnesotas bigger-picture pressure on display. ONeal pushed back on Balls approach and framed the move to Minnesota as the kind of addition that should raise the teams ambitions in a major way, which is exactly why the exchange landed as more than just a quick TV moment. It also underscored how much attention Balls fit with Edwards is already drawing, even before the season really gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Opening Night Exposed One Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Minnesota opened its regular-season schedule with a win over Miami, but the bigger takeaway from opening night was how much the Timberwolves leaned on their new backcourt to survive the early push. Anthony Edwards led the way with a huge scoring night, while LaMelo Ball added timely perimeter shooting in a debut that gave the offense a different kind of juice. The guard play was the clear strength, and it helped Minnesota mask some of the uneven stretches that showed up elsewhere.
The frontcourt, though, is already something to watch. Minnesota had trouble early defending a bigger, physical attack, and the game turned into a reminder that the Wolves can be stretched when opponents go after their smaller bigs. The good news was that the team tightened things up after halftime and found a way to limit Bam Adebayos influence, but the questions around how this group handles elite interior pressure are not going away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Send An Early Message Against Miamis New-Look Team
Minnesotas season opener offered an early look at how much the Timberwolves can still dictate terms against a reworked Miami roster. Giannis Antetokounmpo made his Miami debut with 35 points, the most ever by a player in a debut for the Heat, but the Wolves still came away with the win and gave the new-look group plenty to sort through after one night.
For Miami, the issues went beyond one stars scoring burst. The Heat had trouble generating help around him, and the glass was an issue too, which made it hard for them to get the kind of open-floor opportunities they want. Minnesota, meanwhile, left with a result that felt bigger than a single October game, especially with Anthony Edwards continuing to be a problem for Miami whenever these teams line up. [Read more 🡒]