What did Bones Hyland get traded for?

Nah’Shon Lee Hyland, better known as Bones Hyland, plays for the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA. He has been a great rotational piece so far and can score from all three levels on the floor. He was nicknamed Bones because of his skinny frame. He was picked in the 2021 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets as the 26th overall pick.

Hyland can create his own shots and is a pure scorer. Only 54.9 per cent of his threes are assisted so he can clearly create his own shots. He has the perfect combination of efficiency, depth, and creation for his shots. He has remained efficient from the 3-point line throughout his career and shoots at 36.8 per cent from deep.

Hyland has just spent two years in the NBA and is already a dead-eye, catch-and-shoot threat. If the defenders are late to contest his shots, he will score without hesitation. He uses his ball-handling and footwork to create a very nice look for himself. The only part of his game that has not reached the mark is his defensive ability.

So far in his career, Bones is averaging 10.9 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game. He shoots the basketball at 40.2 per cent from the field and 36.9 per cent from the three-point line. Hyland is just in his third season and has already looked like he can be a great rotational piece to a contending team.

Bones Hyland Trade

On 9th February 2023, the Los Angeles Clippers acquired Bones Hyland from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for two second-round draft picks. Nuggets’ general manager Calvin Booth was ruthless with his statement as to why he traded Hyland who was an essential piece to the Nuggets squad. Booth said “I knew you couldn’t have two guys that couldn’t guard, and we couldn’t have two guys that were young and kind of more ‘me guys,” he continued by saying “Mike (Michael Porter Jr.) makes $30 million. He’s one of the best shooters in the NBA. So, Bones, there’s no place for you.” - Via Kevin O'Connor of the Ringer’s

Even though this was a very straightforward message, the NBA at the end of the day is a business entity where trades frequently happen and teams have to do what suits them the best. For the Nuggets, Porter Jr. was the better fit for the team so they kept him. Hyland, on the other hand, is a good scorer but that is about all he can do.

Hyland needs to improve as a defender to increase his minutes and that is the next step for him. Teams like to target poor defenders and Hyland falls right into the trap. This creates a liability for the team when it comes to the defensive side of the floor.