The Clippers must find Bones Hyland a new home for this reason

When the LA Clippers traded for Bones Hyland at the 2023 trade deadline, they landed themselves one of the most skilled young guards in the league. Bones is difficult to defend with a blended skill set of shiftiness and elite shot-making. These contributing factors have paved the way for Hyland to reach the highest level of basketball on a championship-contender.

For the remainder of the 2022-23 season, head coach Tyronn Lue had Hyland in and out of the active rotation. However, Lue reminded him to stay ready when an opportunity opened up. Soon enough, the Clippers were short-staffed in the postseason, and Bones chipped in with nearly nine points per game off the bench.

The summer went by, and Hyland was prepared to lead the Clippers' bench to success. He started the 2023-24 season by scoring over 15 points in three of the team's first four games. The chemistry within the locker room was on point, and the former first-round pick was thriving in Los Angeles.

Just days later, the front office made a championship-motivated decision to trade for the 2018 MVP, James Harden. This was the right decision for the team's aspirations, but Hyland was ultimately pushed back into the guard rotation. There were too many mouths to feed, and Bones' inexperience kept him sidelined for extended periods.

Bones Hyland will be buried by the Clippers' depth next season

Going into training camp this year, Bones Hyland will be under the last year of his rookie contract. If there is nowhere for Hyland to contribute, it would be best for the front office to negotiate a trade around the league.

Despite Hyland's expiring contract, he is highly valued on the trade market at 23 years old. The VCU product closed out the 2023-24 season averaging 6.9 points and 2.5 assists in 14.6 minutes per game. Although these numbers seem low, Bones' potential was evident in his 37-point performance against the Phoenix Suns, where he shot 51.7% from the field on six three-pointers.

Another player the Clippers' front office could look to trade is P.J. Tucker. Assuming a transaction occurs, these two will likely be packaged together for an additional star and draft compensation. Teams like the Bulls may be interested, as they appear ready to move on from two-time all-star Zach LaVine.

Nonetheless, the Clippers have numerous guards who will be anticipating time on the court. With starters like James Harden and Terance Mann guaranteed minutes, Hyland may find himself limited in opportunity. If the front office refrains from initiating trade discussions, the Delaware native should step forward and request a way out.