As it is, Bones Hyland is ready to pack his bag and go elsewhere.
In the middle of the national telecast of the New Orleans Pelicans-Denver Nuggets match on Tuesday, TNT’s Chris Haynes reported that Hyland is open to being traded and gaining a larger role with a new team.
Added by Haynes, the Nuggets have been in the market offering Hyland, and plenty of teams have expressed interest to trade for the second-year guard.
Hyland, the prized first-round selection of the franchise in the last 2021 NBA Draft, has developed into a fan-favorite amongst Denver fans with his sparkling scoring ability. But the atmosphere has shifted as he became the latest component of trade chatters that existed in recent days.
Though highly talented and scoring 12.1 points on just 19.1 minutes average this season, Hyland is particularly inconsistent and criticized for his 39.9 percent field goal efficiency and shot selections. Furthermore, his lanky frame is highly exploitative from switches and unfair mismatches against opposing teams – making him a one-sided player that is full of risk upon exposure when the postseason time comes.
His supportive ball-handling responsibility for Jamal Murray has already been shifted also to Bruce Brown, with the veteran earning that trust from head coach Michael Malone.
As the Nuggets are looking to capitalize their championship window and improve their units this season bannered by reigning two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, Hyland is the only enticing asset they can shop to address their remaining roster needs. As they are set to go all in and compete for years to come in this timeline with Jokic, they have no such time to make room for Hyland to just nourish and develop.
A trade ahead of next week’s deadline can only benefit both sides, with Hyland appearing to consider it as a blessing in disguise on what lies ahead of his NBA career and potential as a promising scorer.
