One report leading up to the 2022 draft indicated that the Nuggets might be open to discussing Bones Hyland in trades. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports hears from sources that Denver did indeed discuss Hyland last June, and has started to check his current value on the trade market.
An All-Rookie Second Team member last year, the 22-year-old is a talented shot-maker, but he is not a great defensive player, and has at times been pulled from games by head coach Michael Malone for a lack of effort on the less glamorous end. Fischer reports that the “occasional clashes” between the second-year guard and Malone contributed to Denver’s willingness to discuss Hyland in trades.
The Nuggets are said to be looking for a “defensive-minded frontcourt player” and a first-round pick in exchange for Hyland, though they are also interested in a reserve point guard to potentially replace him. Like Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Fischer hears the Timberwolves are interested — Tim Connelly drafted Hyland.
As Fischer explains, the former first-round pick still has two more years left on his rookie scale contract, but it sounds as if the Nuggets might be reluctant to pay him in the future due to luxury tax concerns. Complicating matters further for Denver is that Bruce Brown is expected to decline his player option for 2023/24 in search of a more lucrative deal.
The Nuggets only have Brown’s Non-Bird rights, so they’ll be limited to offering him 120% of his current contract – a new deal would start at $7.8MM, only a $1MM raise on his player option. There’s nothing in Fischer’s report indicating the Nuggets are shopping Brown, but he suggests they’re afraid he might walk in free agency.
My favorite top-3 players in the trade block
1. Highland
2. Reid
3. Vanderbilt
Sillivan, 3 and five are not equal. You said “my favorite top 5” and listed 3
I firmly believe both Naz Reid and Bones Hyland each have some untapped potential that could be unlocked with a change of scenery and more consistent playing time..
I argued the same thing for Bol Bol, when alot of people on here said he didn’t even belong in the NBA. The Nuggets have previously done an excellent job drafting players and identifying talent, but Malone tends to put some guys in his dog house and makes it nearly impossible for them to get out of it..
I’m not saying either Bol Bol or Bones are going to become stars simply by leaving Denver, but Bol has instantly looked more like a legit, young big with immense potential, and I think Bones will be alot more likely to reach his potential elsewhere as well.
I could easily see Bones becoming a solid 6th man for any contending team, and being a real sparkplug for them providing scoring off their bench..
As far as Reid goes, I just think he needs more court time, and I firmly believe whichever team that acquires him will be getting a very promising up and coming big. I think Reid could really explode on a team like Golden State, but I highly doubt they’d be able to acquire him.
1st round picks wanted by teams so far in trades. 40,086. 1st round picks that exist. 99% less. Got it.
Some players that are 3 times more valuable won’t get a 1st.
If draft slots were given 5 years sooner ( i have no idea the method), then teams could trade and swap draft picks with certainly of the value.
Until then, sadly, its the gross difference between unexpected 1st round picks and 2nd rounders.
So you’re saying that there are 400 available first round picks that exist? Huge market apparently
half that. stepien rule (7yrs). 30 teams, swaps included. 210.
A rounding error
Bojan for Bones would be win win
I love this Calvin Booth guy. Deliberate, as he has to be, but relentless at the same time. I knew he’d get around to every non-defender on the inherited roster sooner or later, more sooner than later. MPJ’s day will come too, but that probably has to wait for another day. Hyland is low lying fruit.
Calvin Booth caught a body once
Knicks should go after this kid, he would light MSG up. He has the demeanor to play in NY. Could be the Knicks version of Dame for years to come.
I doubt he would mesh with Thibs. He’s Cam except slightly less of a knucklehead and, seemingly, a better shooter.
Pair this kid with a head coach who could actually get his head on straight and then you’d really have something. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with a very talented but erratic and defensively-challenged underoptimizer.
Love Bones Hyland but fair enough from the Nuggets to be honest.
Bones is a really good shooter, 38.5% from three this season, really crafty ball handler and has this really fun/positive energy. For now he averages 20 minutes per night and puts up 12-3-2 with a steal every second night. Per 36 minutes it is 21.5/5/3.5 shooting 38% from 3. In the NBA as of today only 9 players average over 20 points per game and shoo over 38% from 3.
So if given a starters opportunity and big minutes I think he put up really good numbers and wouldn’t look out of place at all. However he is poor defensively (to be expected from most 2 year guards). The fact it’s being labeled as a lack of effort and clashing with the head coach does cause some concern.
Some from the Nuggets perspective your trying to win now, you have two time MVP Nikola Jokic and a really good supporting cast of players and coaches. You’ve got a second year guard who is really good but poor defensively and is lacking effort and clashing with the coach that is an issue and gauging the market for his value isn’t the worst move. End of the day you don’t want problems, you want everyone to give 100% and build a team capable of winning a title. So yes it’s very tough stance but it’s justified too.
Looking at possible trades or landing spots…
1. Bones Hyland and Jeff Green for Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard.
Celtics couldn’t come to terms with Grant about an extension, at one point were listening to offers on Payton and in the past had interest in Jeff Green. Tie that all together and you have this deal. You’d have a little bit of an odd fit with Brogdan White Smart and Bones but that’s easily solved. Long term I think Bones could be a terrific fit with Browns and Tatum. Ideal as a third scoring option, spaces the floor and offers secondary playamking with a tough handle. He could also do with a bit of tough love from a guy like Marcus Smart in order to make him a better defender and all round player.
For the Nuggets they want a 3 and D forward similar to what Aaron Gordon has been doing for them this season. Grant Williams is perfect for that role. He’s having back to back season shooting over 41% from 3, his FG% improves, his rebounding and assists numbers have improved, he hits his FT’s. He’s also a huge effort player and solid defender. Payton Pritchard also comes to fill Bones role as the back up point guard, he’s been deserving of a bigger role for a while and would also do well for them.
2. I did see a lot of noise about the TWolves being interested I think they have two small windows of opportunity for Bones.
– Dlo, Wendell Moore and Naz Reid for MPJ and Bones, This would be because the nuggets want to get rid of MPJ’s enormous contract. So they take Dlo, a prospect in Moore and Naz Reid who they apparently really like for MPJ and Bones. Dlos expiring deal means they can likely bring back Bruce Brown and Naz Reid in FA aswell as maybe a bench player or two. Reid would be very good coming off the bench backing up Jokic and Dlo would in the short term be a solid sixth man back up point guard. For the TWolves Bones and ANT would make a very entertaining backcourt for the future. MPJ also would be a good fit as the SF however in the future this team would be very expensive.
The alternative is Naz for Bones with I think the nuggets say no especially without pucks attached to Reid’s expiring deal.
3. In a similar move as above but 3 team deal.
PHX: John Collins, Bones Hyland and Justin Holiday
ATL: MPJ
Denver: Jae Crowder, Landry Shamet, Dario Saric and 2023 first from the Suns.
Reports came out that they are looking at a possible CP3 successor and Bones could be exactly that. Plus there’s been lots of noise about JC going to the suns. So they get their two guys plus Holiday for a bunch of scrubs and a pick. Atalanta takes back MPJ’s huge deal and in fairness he could be a good fit in their 3 and D style playing with Trae. Lastly the Nuggets get back Shamet as the back up point, Crowder as a 3 and D forward, Saric for some depth and a pick aswell as get rid of MPJs deal.
Are they out of their mind? They’ve got no one else on the bench to run the second team
He’s a potential all star in 3 yrs. I dont get it unless he has some off court issues…
I don’t think there’s a deal out there worth trading Bones. If he gets better at scoring around the rim (floater perhaps) and better at D (not an impossible ask) then Bones will be a near all star level player. He has a real high ceiling. Right now tho, he’s not a better backup pg than Bruce Brown. I’m happy Bones is getting playing time…he’s definitely worth developing. I’m not sure I’d play him in the playoffs this year…probably not. The Nuggets should not be playing small ball 3 pg lineups…no Bones/Murray/Brown. The Nuggets are better playing big…they need to play standard 3 bigs/2 smalls lineups…Zeke/Cancar/Braun deserve more playing time…although I don’t know if Braun will see pt in the playoffs. However, Braun looks like he could develop into a replacement for KCP by the end of KCP’s contract.