For the past two seasons, it's been clear that the Minnesota Timberwolves need a point guard. Minnesota's need for a PG was amplified this season, as Mike Conley declined more, and with the offseason loss of Nickeil Alexander-Walker. However, in the past week, Bones Hyland has emerged as a revelation in the Wolves' rotation.
Hyland returned to the Wolves' rotation last Monday against the Phoenix Suns. He dropped 14 points (on 5-for-8 shooting) in 15:47 minutes in his first game back in the rotation since early November. After that, Hyland earned two straight starts with Anthony Edwards out. While he left Friday's game with an injury after just under five minutes, Hyland showed out again on Sunday, posting 18 points and five assists.
The Wolves have desperately needed some extra perimeter shot creation and playmaking next to Edwards, which is exactly what Hyland is giving them. His presence as a microwave scorer is also vital for a team that ranks 27th in bench points. Hyland will have to prove that he is capable of making a consistent impact. Regardless, if he can do this regularly, it certainly changes the Timberwolves' outlook.
Bones Hyland is giving the Timberwolves exactly what they need
While he leaves much to be desired on the defensive end of the court, Hyland's offensive skill set is exactly what the Wolves need. Hyland is a silky smooth microwave scorer. A guard who can break the paint and create for himself outside of Edwards is something the Wolves have lacked. Frankly, they hoped that Rob Dillingham could provide this, but he's been too raw so far.
Bones Hyland 2025-26 Bag work pic.twitter.com/wOBWBKe7PR
— Naylor (@Naylor408) December 16, 2025
Hyland is shooting an impressive 66.7 percent on drives. Conversely, Dillingham is shooting 45.5 percent on drives, and Conley is shooting 31.6 percent. Hyland's blend of speed, dazzling handles, and poise makes him an effective finisher. He is a true three-level scorer, though.
On the season, Hyland is shooting 38.9 percent from beyond the arc and 43.8 percent on pull-up 3s. It's a limited sample size, but Hyland has also made all four of his mid-range shots. Hyland's elite handle allows him to stop on a dime and drill shots with ease.
In the pick-and-roll, Hyland has also been sensational, ranking in the 98th percentile or fourth in the league. He is averaging 1.39 points per possession and is shooting 61.5 percent on PNRs. Conley ranks in the 34th percentile, while Dillingham ranks in the 5th percentile.
Having a dependable perimeter pick-and-roll threat, outside of Edwards, is massive for the Wolves. I'm not sure if it's sustainable for Hyland to remain this good in the PNR, but his abilities as a driver and pull-up shooter give him a chance to do so.
Undoubtedly, Hyland's main value is as a microwave scorer, but he's also a solid playmaker. You can't buy too much into his 1.6 assists per game, given his inconsistent role, but it's worth noting that he is averaging 4.0 dimes in the last two games where he's played big minutes. One thing that stands out to me with Hyland is his poise and steadiness.
Hyland isn't a traditional table setter, but he does a great job of making the right read, especially in the pick-and-roll and when driving. Given his gifts as a scorer, this could be all the Wolves need, though.
Ultimately, Hyland may have given the Wolves a solution to their fatal flaw; at the very least, he's an intriguing weapon off the bench for a team that needs an extra scoring punch.