Following a trade with the Denver Nuggets, the LA Clippers acquired one of the most exciting young guards in the NBA with Bones Hyland. His outstanding burst and unique skill set instantly boost the Clippers’ offense to places they have never been.
As he is only 22 years of age, Hyland was having a phenomenal sophomore year with the Nuggets. Not only was he averaging 12.1 points, but he added 3.0 assists while shooting 37.8% from beyond the arc. These are impressive numbers, especially for a player drafted toward the end of the 2021 NBA Draft.
However, with the Clippers acquiring a former MVP in Russell Westbrook, Hyland’s role is currently in the air. Several questions have been brought to light on whether or not he will receive a fair share of minutes and how his impact will sustain in a crowded back-court.
Bone Hyland will see the short end of the stick for the LA Clippers.
For now, Bones Hyland will likely be in a tough situation for the LA Clippers. The front office put their championship priorities above all, which ultimately took a toll on Hyland’s playing time. Although he may not see the court as often as he should, there is a chance his time will come in the postseason.
That said, the Clippers’ signing of Westbrook is widely seen as an experiment. With key pieces such as Paul George and Nicolas Batum advocating for the former MVP, head coach Tyronn Lue will test out different rotations and proceed from there.
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With the all-star break nearing an end, there is little to no time to experiment with lineups. The coaching staff must act fast, as they could see a tough match-up in the playoffs. Though, if this experiment succeeds, the entire Western Conference will be in trouble for many months to come.