The Timberwolves intend to promote guard Jaylen Clark from his two-way contract to a standard deal, agent Todd Ramasar tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
While the Wolves’ position above the second tax apron means they’re unable to offer Clark more than a minimum-salary deal, Charania reports that the former second-round pick will receive a fully guaranteed two-year contract, which will lock him up through the 2025/26 season.
The 53rd overall pick in 2023 out of UCLA, Clark spent his rookie season recovering from an ruptured Achilles tendon. The Wolves were aware of that injury when they drafted him, but were willing to be patient with a player that president of basketball operations Tim Connelly referred to in June 2023 as “the best perimeter defender in the draft,” signing him to a two-year, two-way contract.
After recovering from his Achilles tear, Clark opened the 2024/25 season by playing primarily for the Iowa Wolves in the G League, but he has since established himself as a role player in Minnesota.
The 23-year-old has logged double-digit minutes in each of the Timberwolves’ past 13 games, averaging 6.5 points per game on .476/.444/.750 shooting while playing strong point-of-attack defense. He has held opponents to 41% shooting as the contesting defender this season, per Charania (Twitter link).
Once Clark’s promotion to the 15-man roster is official, the Timberwolves will use their open two-way contract slot on free agent guard Bones Hyland, agent Austin Walton tells Charania (Twitter link).
Hyland was selected by the Nuggets with the 26th overall pick in the 2021 draft back when Connelly was running Denver’s front office. The former VCU standout showed some intriguing potential as a scorer and shooter during a season-and-a-half in Denver (10.9 PPG, .371 3PT%). However, the Nuggets – said to be concerned about Hyland’s defensive lapses and his displeasure with his role – sent him to the Clippers at the 2023 deadline.
Hyland never really found his footing in Los Angeles, appearing in just 71 games over the last two years and averaging 7.8 PPG on .392/.349/.812 shooting during that time. He was traded to Atlanta earlier this month as part of the Terance Mann/Bogdan Bogdanovic swap and was quickly waived by the Hawks.
Given that he drafted Hyland and reportedly came close to acquiring him at the 2023 trade deadline, it makes sense that Connelly sought out a reunion with the 24-year-old after he reached free agency. This is Hyland’s fourth year in the NBA, making it the last season in which he’s eligible for a two-way deal.
Minnesota will have a full 18-man roster (15 standard contracts, three two-ways) once the roster moves are official.
C’mon Bones, you are running out of chances to put it together and stick in the league.
This is the best spot for Bones and I said this awhile back
Good moves by Minnesota
Agreed. We need some depth at the PG spot to be able to make a run in the post-season. Hopefully he’ll be able to get on track here. We’ve done good with some other “cast-offs”.