When Bones Hyland left the Nuggets’ bench a few minutes into the fourth quarter of a game against Oklahoma City on Jan. 22, it was the most public display of frustration the second-year guard had shown in his quest for a larger role.
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Hyland played 11 minutes that night. Two days earlier, against Indiana, he played just nine.
The Nuggets’ uneasy dynamic with Hyland came to an abrupt end about an hour before Thursday’s trade deadline when they moved the second-year guard to the Clippers for two second-round picks, sources said. The unprotected picks are for 2024 and 2025.
The Nuggets’ other move — trading reserve wing Davon Reed and three second-round picks for Lakers’ big man Thomas Bryant — should bolster Denver’s second unit.
Moving Hyland, who was just named to the Rising Stars game for the second consecutive season and has two years left on his rookie deal, should be viewed as addition by subtraction. The fact that the team traded him without getting anything in return that would help them win now — unlike the deal they’d already executed to acquire Bryant — indicated as much.
Despite all of that, the decision to trade Hyland was a difficult one that went up to ownership, sources said.
Numerous veterans were frustrated with Hyland in the aftermath of his decision to walk off the bench, sources said. In the weeks preceding the deadline, another veteran who spoke on condition of anonymity was not displeased and understood why Bones was being shopped.
Following that game, the Nuggets went on a three-game road swing that began with a trip to New Orleans. As punishment, Hyland didn’t fly with the team. Instead, he flew commercial and met up with the team later. He wasn’t at shootaround the following day, nor was he active that night against the Pelicans. That also happened to be coach Michael Malone’s first game back from a bout with COVID. Hyland’s bench exit had come under acting head coach David Adelman’s watch.
The Nuggets initially tried to keep the fact that Hyland was available via trade relatively quiet, though multiple teams that contacted The Post in the wake of Hyland’s walk-off had already heard about the incident.
By the time Thursday’s deadline came around, there wasn’t nearly as much interest in Hyland as the team initially believed would be there. By trading Hyland the Nuggets got rid of a player who didn’t align with Denver’s title goals. They also opened up a roster spot, which could be filled by a veteran on the buyout market.
Hyland’s fit alongside Jamal Murray in the second unit was flawed at best and rocky at worst. Alongside Hyland in the backcourt, Murray was forced to guard the more dangerous offensive threat of the two because of Hyland’s defensive lapses, which was a source of frustration for Murray, a source said. Offensively, they didn’t gel, either. On some possessions Hyland submarined the offense, undermining Murray, the team’s second-best player. At other times, Murray bypassed Hyland.
Before Hyland’s name surfaced in trade rumors, it was an open question whether he’d even be in the playoff rotation. Ultimately, the collectively low interest across the league may have answered that question.
Denver’s other transaction accomplishes its goal of adding an impact player to the playoff rotation. From the Lakers’ perspective, gaining three second-round picks and Reed for Bryant, who has an expiring contract, should be considered a win.
When the Lakers landed De’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt in a trade with Utah and Minnesota, that opened the door for the Nuggets to snag Bryant. Zeke Nnaji’s lingering shoulder injury was another consideration. From Denver’s perspective, though he can be a free agent this summer, Bryant’s addition at a minimal cost gets it closer to their goal of winning a championship this season.
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