The Wolves have one roster spot that remains available, but we’ve seen the Timberwolves leave that roster spot open at times too, either to save money and/or maintain maximum flexibility. In other words, it’s not a guarantee they fill it at all.

But there’s no doubt this team could still make upgrades. A playmaking guard, for example, who could help facilitate in the half-court and maybe get Anthony Edwards off the ball, when necessary, would be a great way to use up that final spot.

What about a guard for the MN Timberwolves though?

Then again, leaving it vacant would give allow up-and-coming Wolves, along with recent signings such as Johnny Juzang, a better chance of making the team out of training camp and making worthwhile contributions in 2025-26.

But reading the latest from Minnesota Timberwolves insider Jon Krawczynski (The Athletic), president of basketball operations Tim Connelly is planning to fill the roster vacancy. In fact, the Wolves are currently considering a quartet of players for their final roster spot.

The four names up for consideration are Malcolm Brogdon, Cam Payne, Landry Shamet, and Bones Hyland. Of course, Hyland closed out last season as a member of the MN Timberwolves, and per Krawczynski, Hyland “is the “frontrunner” again.

The Wolves have looked into several candidates for the spot, including Malcolm Brogdon, Cam Payne and Landry Shamet, league sources told The Athletic. However, all indications are that Bones Hyland is the front-runner to get that final spot, league sources said. Hyland signed a two-way contract with the Wolves in February, played briefly in Iowa and spent the rest of his time with the Timberwolves.

The Athletic

Tim Connelly loves him some Bones Hyland

Tim Connelly has always had a soft spot for Bones Hyland. He drafted the 6’2″, 173 lb VCU alum No. 26 overall in 2021 and made him into one of the more exciting young surprises in the NBA almost immediately.

Hyland’s first 125 NBA games (2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons), the now 24-year-old averaged 10.9 points, 2.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per night, quickly inserting himself as a future cornerstone of Tim Connelly’s Nuggets.

Love too hoop! Opportunity meets Preparation soon 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/CpzCF9tOhe

— Bones Hyland (@BizzyBones11) July 15, 2025

Related: Former MN Timberwolves Player Evicted from Home

Then, Connelly left Denver for Minnesota and Hyland left for LA (Clippers). He hasn’t been the same player since, averaging 6.6 points, 2 assists and 1.3 rebounds (12.8 MPG) in 61 total games over the past two seasons.

Whether it’s a Hyland reclamation project, one of the other three names listed by Jon Krawczynski, or someone currently off the radar, it’s clear the MN Timberwolves are still hunting for backcourt help to bolster their depth chart behind Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham, TJ Shannon.

Hyland was only with the Timberwolves on a two-way contract last season, which is the same type Naz Reid was initially signed to. Hyland made a strong impression while with the Iowa Wolves last season; perhaps the former Denver Nuggets player’s next chapter sees him make an impact in Minnesota too.

Instead, the Timberwolves were just an afterthought used to help shuffle money, players and draft picks around. When KD (essentially) refused to play in Minnesota, Connelly pivoted to plan B, which included new contracts for both Julius Randle and Naz Reid, but not Nickeil Alexander-Walker or depth bigs Luka Garza and Josh Minott.

Now up against the 2nd apron of the NBA Luxury Tax, the Timberwolves seem to be content with running things back in 2025-26, sans some extra playing time for the youngsters remaining on roster. Of course, nothing is guaranteed when Tim Connelly is running the show.

While the MN Timberwolves don’t have a lot of wiggle room to move around, they seem to be very active behind the scenes exploring what remains atop the guard market. Weeks ago, the Wolves were reportedly targeting a trade for Utah guard Collin Sexton, before he landed in Charlotte

Minnesota Timberwolves showing interest in Bradley Beal

Now, according to Jake Fischer and The Stine Line Substack, Connelly & Co are courting multiple available guards, including KD’s former teammate in Phoenix, Bradley Beal.

Some confirmed suitors for Beal include the LA Clippers — fresh off agreeing to trade Norman Powell to Miami in a three-team deal that will bring back Utah’s John Collins — as well as the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee and Minnesota.

Jake Fisher – The Stine Line Substack

Related: Kevin Garnett a Priority for New Timberwolves Owners

The Phoenix Suns are tearing things down and Bradley Beal is next up on the deconstruction to-do list. According to Fisher, the 32-year-old and the Suns are negotiating a buyout that would make him an unrestricted free agent, while at the same time, they continue to explore trade possibilities across the league.

Beal, a former No. 3 overall draft pick, has averaged 21.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists during his 13-year NBA career. But out of the 801 NBA games he has played in that time, last year was one of Beal’s toughest. He saw his minutes drop to 32.1 per game, his lowest since 2015-16. Along with his playing time, went his production.

The Bradley Beal revisionist history is nasty work

pic.twitter.com/OW5IF9Y7Nl

— 🦉 Lakers Vino (@VinoUncorked) July 7, 2025

From 2017-2023, Bradley Beal averaged 25.5 points on 35.7 minutes per night. In two seasons with the Phoenix Suns, those numbers dropped to 17.6 points and 32.7 minutes. Would those numbers improve when you pair him with Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle and Naz Reid? I’m not sure I see it.

Timberwolves also reportedly in on Malcolm Brogdon

Brogdon, meanwhile, is currently a member of the Washington Wizards. Fortunately. They too are actively looking to move the (also) 32-year-old via sign-and-trade. Once again, the Timberwolves were one of a handful of teams calling on the former 2nd round pick out of Virginia.

All of these scenarios, furthermore, are sure to have an impact on Brogdon. League sources say that the Wizards are open to sign-and-trade discussions to facilitate Brogdon’s exit and a slew of teams have registered varying levels of interest in the 32-year-old. That list includes the Clippers, Suns and Lakers as well as the Warriors, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Kings and Bucks.

Jake Fisher – The Stine Line Substack

Related: Big Names Highlight Minnesota Timberwolves Summer League Roster

Malcolm Brogdon is another guard seemingly on the career decline. After averaging 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game (28.7 MPG) during his first eight NBA seasons (through 2023-24), Brogdon’s numbers and floor time dropped off to 12.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game (23.5 MPG) in 2024-25.

As a fit for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Brogdon would seem to make a lot more sense than Beal. Though, it is worth questioning whether or not Malcolm Brogdon would want to play here.

Malcolm Brogdon might one of the most underrated 6MOTY winners ever pic.twitter.com/p4ZEgpvK08

— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) September 20, 2024

It’s always possible key players from 2024-25 could be included in a sign-and-trade to land either Brogdon or Beal. But if not, would the latter really want to sit behind Mike Conley… who wouldn’t even be his biggest depth chart problem?

Remember, the Minnesota Timberwolves still have and believe in 2024 No. 8 overall pick Rob Dillingham, who has a big summer in front of him. It’s very plausible Dillingham is ready for more minutes. But if the Wolves bring in Brogdon, those minutes suddenly become much harder to find.

Nonetheless, the Wolves are undeniably doing their best to add more talent either at wing and/or point guard. What Tim Connelly finds out their vs what will make this team better… only time will tell.

Related: 5 Players that Fit Minnesota Timberwolves Perfectly at NBA Trade Deadline

Of course, two losses aren’t going to force Tim Connelly’s hand, when the Wolves are still sitting atop the Western Conference. Nonetheless, it’s becoming more and more obvious that he needs to do something to bolster and shake up the locker room a little bit before embarking on the most important 2nd half of a season in recent franchise history.

Minnesota Timberwolves showing interest in Malcolm Brogdon

Things have been mostly quiet on the rumor front too, until late Monday night when NBA insider Sam Amico (HoopsWire) named the Minnesota Timberwolves as one of at least four teams that are showing interest in Portland Trail Blazers guard, Malcolm Brogdon.

“Lakers, Knicks interested in Malcolm Brogdon. TWolves and Rockets among others, per Hoops Wire sources.”

Sam Amico – HoopsWire

This is the first time the Wolves have been linked to Brogdon, but he makes a ton of sense. Not only is he the reigning 6th man of the year, which is the exact type of ball-handling guard Chris Finch would like to pair next to Naz Reid on the 2nd unit, but he’s a 31-year-old veteran who can bring some more much needed maturity to Minnesota’s locker room.

Talks surrounding Brogdon have heated up recently, after the Blazers moved him into a bench role, in favor of young blossoming superstar, Scoot Henderson, making him possibly the most gettable high-end ball-handling bench guard on the trade deadline market. He’s averaging 15.5 points and 5.3 assists per game, and a 42% hit rate from deep.

Malcolm Brogdon making things happen for the Blazers from deep 🎯pic.twitter.com/lxCeMBAWdd

— Blazers Nation (@BlazersNationCP) January 18, 2024

The former Virginia star is making $22.5 million on the first season of a two-year deal that he signed last offseason. Money the Timberwolves send out would have to be very similar to how much of Brogdon’s contract the Wolves have to eat, due to how tight they are up against the luxury tax line.

Related: NBA Insider Wants Timberwolves to Trade Kyle Anderson for Doug McDermott

If Minnesota were to deal for Brogdon, his stay would probably be limited. If you think the Wolves’ luxury tax situation this season is bad, wait until next year when it becomes 100x worse.

But the contract obstacles shouldn’t be too difficult to work out. Brogdon is a really good point guard and he’s on a short-term deal. Those types of contracts are as good as gold on the NBA trade market. According to The Athletic, Malcolm shouldn’t cost as much, from an asset standpoint, as other players Tim Connelly might target on the trade block.

Brogdon’s contract isn’t for an overly aggressive amount if he continues to produce as a bigger lead guard. Teams who could use a bit of shooting and backcourt punch, make a ton of sense for Brogdon if they don’t want to shell out premium assets for other players.

The Athletic

There have been some rumors heating up this morning surrounding Brogdon and a possible trade to the New York Knicks but Knicks insider Ian Begley says there have been no advanced talks between New York and Portland.