NBA Trade Grades: Clippers get Bones Hyland in absolute steal

The Denver Nuggets were forced to pursue a trade for Bones Hyland and the Clippers were able to land him for a pretty small return. Who won this trade?

Bones Hyland and the Nuggets appeared headed for a separation — he was dissatisfied with his role and the Nuggets needed another wing defender more than they needed his offense. As a second-year guard already playing minutes for one of the best teams in the league, hitting big shots and averaging double-figures (for the second season) off the bench the Nuggets should have had plenty of offers to choose from.

And yet, somehow, they ended up sending Hyland to the Clippers for a pair of future second-round picks.

The Clippers commit grand larceny

This a huge win for the Clippers. Hyland doesn’t satisfy Kawhi’s reported desire for a new point guard but he can defend point guards and contribute as a complementary scorer from that position if Kawhi and Paul George pick up more ball-handling responsibilities and act as de facto point guards.

Hyland has hit 38.2 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this season and 37.6 percent off the dribble. He’s an electric shot creator with real microwave-scoring potential. His defense and ability to create for other leave a lot to be desired but the Clippers basically got him for nothing and he should be ready to play meaningful minutes right away.

Clippers Grade: A

The Nuggets did the best they could

The Nuggets selected Bones Hyland with the No. 26 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. If, on draft night, they had traded that pick for a pair of future seconds it would have looked like an extremely bad deal. And that’s before considering what Hyland actually turned into — a guard who looks to be far more productive than the average player taken at that slot.

To be fair, Hyland was disgruntled and wanted out which removed some of Denver’s leverage. And maybe this really is the best offer that was available. But the Nuggets took a first-round pick, found an absolute steal and then had to turn it into two picks that will likely fall in the middle of the second round. There’s no way you can look at that as anything but a loss.

Nuggets grade: D

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