Timberwolves Sign Former Tim Connelly Draft Pick; Reward Jaylen Clark

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Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jaylen Clark
Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

Fresh off a crazy comeback win over the Thunder, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ season may be taking a turn for the better. They’ve recently gotten great run out of some of their young players, showing us that they have an exciting future to look forward to around star Anthony Edwards.

In particular, Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Jaylen Clark have all provided sparks in the wake of many injuries to the starting lineup. As a result, the Timberwolves gave some good news to one of those main young guys. They also signed a new interesting guard to a two-way contract.

Minnesota Timberwolves convert Jaylen Clark to NBA contract

On Wednesday, Clark was rewarded for his recent solid play. The Wolves converted his two-way contract into a two-year, fully guaranteed NBA contract. He’s with the Wolves while he’s under contract, meaning he no longer will be back and forth with the G-league squad. It’s a minimum deal for the rest of this season and next season, and Clark will still be a restricted free agent after next year.

The move comes after a stretch of great games from Clark since entering the rotation on Jan. 29. He’s averaging 6.5 points and 1.9 rebounds while shooting nearly 45% from three in 13 games. He’s started three of the Wolves’ last four games, all of which came against the first-place Thunder.

Clark was entered into the rotation thanks to injuries to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ lineup. Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo have all missed multiple games, and head coach Chris Finch has been moving players around to accommodate for that. That includes giving more minutes to Clark, a second-round pick out of UCLA in 2023.

Related: Report: Timberwolves Big Man Seeking New Contract This Offseason

As a junior for the Bruins, Clark averaged 13 points, six rebounds and a Pac-12 leading 2.6 steals a game. The Wolves drafted him for his defense, and that’s what he’s excelled at since joining. As the contesting defender this season, Clark is holding opponents to 41% shooting. He’s been the Wolves’ primary defender against MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, helping Minnesota split the season series with one of the Finals favorites.

Newly-acquired Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland
Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

Wolves sign Bones Hyland to two-way contract

In a corresponding move, the Minnesota Timberwolves signed guard Bones Hyland to a two-way deal in Clark’s former spot. Hyland was the 26th overall pick by the Nuggets in 2021, when Wolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly was still in Denver. He was subsequently traded to the Clippers after Connelly left in 2022, where he’s spent the last two seasons.

Hyland was sent to the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline this season, but was waived after just two days with the team. He’s averaging 7.2 points on a career-high 38% 3-point shooting this year in 11 minutes per game. He’s also averaging nearly a steal per game in those 11 minutes, ranking him top five in steals per 36 minutes.

Related: Report: Kevin Garnett to Join Timberwolves Immediately Upon Ownership Change

He’s not putting up the best stats of his career, but Hyland provides injury insurance for the Wolves down the final stretch of the season. He’s a favorite of Connelly’s and the Wolves got him for basically nothing. At his peak, Hyland was averaging 12.1 points per game. With his newfound shooting touch, Minnesota may have found a diamond in the rough.

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