Our exit interview series continues with Bones Hyland, who barely appeared at all for the Clippers in his third year on the team.

Basic Information

Height: 6’2

Weight: 175 pounds

Position: Point Guard

Age: 24

Years in NBA: 4

Key Regular Season Stats: 7.2 points, 1.4 assists, 1.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 1.2 turnovers in 11.1 minutes per game across 20 games played (0 starts) on 39.1/38.8/88.5 (4.0 3PA, 1.3 FTA) shooting splits (56.9 True Shooting)

Expectations

Theoretically, there was a path for Bones to provide value on the Clippers this year. The Clippers knew they would have to lean heavily on James Harden – an aging guard with a ton of miles – but their primary backup point guard was set to be the unreliable and frankly bad Kevin Porter Jr. An injury to either Harden or Porter Jr., or poor play from the latter, would seem to open a path for Bones to enter the rotation.

In actuality, all the reporting from Clippers’ beat reporters over the past year indicated that the Clippers were done with Bones, and that he would play only in garbage time or as a last resort. Really, the only expectation for Bones was when – not if – he would get traded during the season.

Reality

Sure enough, expectations matched reality. Bones sat on the bench for the first month-plus of the season, appearing in games only in garbage time. Then, in early December, Kevin Porter Jr. went down and Bones was thrust into the rotation. Bones had two massive games back to back, scoring 18 points on 12 shots against the Wolves on December 4 and 22 points against the Rockets on 13 shots on December 8. Unfortunately, the Clippers were blown out in both games, and when Porter Jr. got health a few days later, Bones went right back to riding the pine.

The rest of the season kept going in much the same way, with Bones mixing in mostly DNP-CDs with the occasional garbage time stint. Finally, on February 6, Bones was traded to Atlanta as part of the Terance Mann deal. Almost immediately, reporting came out that Atlanta would just waive Bones, and he was only in the deal as salary filler. When the buyout was completed, Bones sat as a free agent for a bit before signing with the Timberwolves as a two-way player. He’s still on the Wolves now, cheering from the bench as the Wolves progress into the Western Conference Finals.

Future with Clippers

Bones seems an incredibly unlikely candidate to return to the Clippers. Even if he’s able to stick around the NBA (and I hope he does – there’s real talent there, despite the on-court limitations and off-court frustrations), Bones probably rightly feels like he wasted the better part of two seasons on the Clippers, while the Clippers clearly had no interest in playing him. Any return of Bones to the Clippers would probably have to involve a change of coaching staff or front office in LA, or a lengthy time gap for any feelings and issues to get resolved. In the meantime, I hope he’s able to get a true chance to play in the NBA and prove he belongs as a reliable rotation player.

2025 Clippers Exit Interviews: Bones Hyland
Robert Flom

The biggest Clippers’ trade of the 2025 NBA trade deadline (by far) was one they executed today about 30 minutes before the deadline, sending Terance Mann and Bones Hyland to the Atlanta Hawks for Bogdan Bogdanovic and three second-round picks.

For the Clippers, the major piece outgoing in the deal is Mann, who has been an organizational favorite and success story since his selection at 48 in the 2019 Draft. Terance was the Clippers’ lone draft hit of the entire 213 era, playing in 382 games in his 5.5 seasons on the team and starting nearly half of them (168). He quickly won fans over with his energy, hustle, and finishing abilities, and will absolutely be missed by the fanbase. Perhaps most importantly, Terance’s Game 6 performance against the Utah Jazz in the 2021 playoffs will forever be etched in Clippers’ franchise lore, a magical, special game in all of the ways sports can be so rewarding. Mann’s 39 points and incredible seven three-point makes drove the Clippers to a huge comeback win and their first-ever Conference Finals, and that can never be taken away from him or from the Clippers.

Unfortunately, Terance has never quite reached those peaks again. He’s mostly hung around the Clippers’ rotation, but was demoted in 2023 due to the arrival of Russell Westbrook, and has been on the fringes for much of this year due to an injury and the play of other wings on the roster. Terance’s three-point shooting has just never gotten good enough for him to solidify a spot as a true starting-level player, and his lack of confidence and aggression has been a similarly persistent issue. Despite the Clippers giving him a 3-year, $47M extension before this season, it was time to move on for both parties. The Clippers will get Terance’s money off their books for coming seasons, and Terance will get a new start in Atlanta. I wish it had ended differently for the second-longest tenured player on the Clippers, but Terance should be in a good spot with the Hawks.

Bones Hyland will be a much less fondly remembered Clipper. His acquisition at the trade deadline in 2023 for a couple second round picks was met with much excitement, as he was less than a year removed from being on the All-Rookie team and was brimming with potential. Unfortunately, Westbrook’s arrival that year (and the Eric Gordon acquisition) followed by Harden’s early the following season meant Bones rarely cracked the rotation. When he did, there were a few moments of brilliance (that one Bulls’ game last year lives on), but not much else. And, while the players seemed to get along with Bones, the coaching staff clearly did not trust him or feel that he was ready and prepared to be called upon when needed. The Clippers have been shopping him for months, and his inclusion in a deal at the deadline seemed a foregone conclusion.

Bogdan Bogdanovic is by far the most pedigreed of the three players, having played for Sacramento and Atlanta for 7.5 seasons. Coming over to the NBA late, Bogdanovic is already 32 years old, and has suffered a number of lower body injuries that have slowed him down. Those injuries and his subsequent downturn in play (this year has been by far the worst of Bogdans’ NBA career) are why he’s available at all after being a key piece for the Hawks. Bogdan has played in just 24 games this year, and is averaging 10 points per game on 37.1% shooting from the field and 30.1% from three in 24.9 minutes per game. For his career, those averages are 14.4, 43.5, and 38 respectively, with the three-point shooting coming on very high volume (6.5 attempts per game).

When Bogi (as he’s affectionately known) is right, he’s a dead-eye three-point shooter who can hit shots off the catch, off the dribble, and off movement. While never a great defender, he has the size at 6’5, 220 to not be a target on that end. Additionally, while not a great playmaker or lead ballhandler, Bogi is good enough at both skills to be a focal point of second unit offenses, coming in top-six in Sixth Man of the Year voting two times. In short, Bogdan is a well-rounded offensive weapon who can both be more of a leading man when hot and fade more into a role player, floor-spacing style as well when not.

The question for the Clippers is whether Bogdan has much left in the tank. The numbers this year are very, very bad, and the sample size is large enough that it’s a concern whether he’ll be able to play at his former level again (at least this season). If he can, he’s someone who will easily fit into many Clippers lineups and will effectively take the place Amir Coffey had been filling so far as the 6^th man. If he’s more limited, he will probably fit in more to the KPJ role as the 8^th man.

However, it seems reasonably clear the Clippers did not really do this trade for Bogdan himself. Instead, they did the deal to move off Mann’s future salary to give themselves more financial flexibility in years to come (Bogdan’s deal is slightly less money than Terance’s, and ends in 2027 instead of 2028) as well as to get a few picks back in the door. The Clippers’ pick asset chest was nearly depleted, and these picks will help with replenishing that stockpile. To be more specific, the Clippers got the 2025 Timberwolves second (likely to be in the 47-52 range), a protected 2026 Memphis pick (will go to them if it’s between 31-42), and, most importantly by far, their own 2027 second round pick. That is the crown jewel of the lot, as it both gives the Clippers a real asset of sorts and will allow them to reap at least a small benefit of being bad if they are deep in the lottery that season (high second round picks are more valuable than late firsts, usually).

There’s one other wrinkle, here, which is the obvious: the Clippers sent out two players and got back just one, clearing a roster spot. This could be used in one of two ways. First, the Clippers could sign a buyout player – think Malcolm Brogdon or Ben Simmons as the two most likely candidates. Second, if the Clippers don’t get a buyout candidate, they can convert Jordan Miller from a two-way to a full NBA contract, locking him up for years to come at a cost-controlled value.

Overall, this trade is a pretty good piece of work by the Clippers. They got off longterm money (even if it was a fan favorite player), acquired a player with some upside in Bogdanovic who is on a slightly cheaper and shorter deal, opened a roster spot, and received some draft capital. It’s not a homerun, but it is a nice, B to B+ type move (similar to the Eubanks trade) that should give short-term and long-term benefits.

Best of luck to Terance and Bones in Atlanta, and welcome Bogdan to Inglewood!

Clippers Trade Bones Hyland and Terance Mann for Bogdan Bogdanovic Plus Picks
Robert Flom

Our player preview series for the 2025 Clippers season continues with Bones Hyland, the seldom-used but very talented backup guard.

Basic Information

Height: 6’2

Weight: 173 pounds

Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard

Age: 24

Years in NBA: 3

Key Stats: 6.9 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.2 turnovers in 14.6 minutes per game across 37 games (5 starts) on 38.6/32/6/78.3 shooting splits.

Contract Status: Fourth year of a four-year, $10.7 million rookie scale deal signed in 2021-22 with the Denver Nuggets with a potential qualifying offer at the end of the season.

Expectations

If the past couple of seasons are any indication, Clippers fans expectations for Bones Hyland shouldn’t be very high. He’s been on the periphery of the rotation since he arrived in LA and there’s no reason to expect that to change heading into the 2024-25 season.

But Hyland has often played well when he’s been called upon. Last season with the Clippers opting to sit most of their key guys, Hyland dropped a career-high 37 points in a near upset of the full-strength Phoenix Suns.

Expectations should be tempered though, as Hyland is behind James Harden and Kris Dunn on the point guard depth chart. While he can also play shooting guard, he’s behind Terance Mann, Norman Powell and maybe even Kevin Porter Jr. in the two guard rotation.

Strengths

There’s no question that Hyland can score the basketball. He’s a very gifted offensive player who can have the ball in his hands and make plays. He can get his own shot, he can get teammates scoring opportunities, and he puts a lot of pressure on the defense with his slashing ability.

He’s a very good three-point shooter too. He can shoot off the catch and can shoot off the dribble. He’s a career 36.1 percent shooter from three-point range.

He doesn’t lack confidence either. You know when he’s on the court he’s going to give it his all and he’s going to approach the game like he’s one of the best players on the court.

Weaknesses

One of the things that limits Hyland defensively is his size. He just doesn’t have the size to matchup up on defense against bigger guards. It’s not that he’s a poor defender; he’s adept at getting steals and forcing turnovers. But in the halfcourt, bigger guards are his weakness.

He can also try and do a little too much on the offensive end. He’s one of those players who can get into a zone and when it happens he tends to favor his shot a little much at the expense of getting others involved.

Summary

It wouldn’t be surprising for Hyland to be a potential trade candidate for the Clippers. He just doesn’t feature much into the team’s plans this season or in the foreseeable future. It’s hard to imagine he’d have much trade value either. But some team might be looking to take a flier on a still relatively young guard.

But if Hyland finishes out the season with the Clippers, he’s going to be stuck to the bench. It also wouldn’t be shocking if the Clippers then decline to extend him a qualifying offer in the offseason, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.

Clippers 2024-2025 Season Preview: Bones Hyland
David Yapkowitz

Our exit interview series on the 2024 Clippers continues with Bones Hyland, the team’s third-string point guard.

Basic Information

Height: 6’2

Weight: 175 pounds

Position: Point Guard

Age: 23

Years in NBA: 3

Key Regular Season Stats: 6.9 points, 2.5 assists, 1.5 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 1.2 turnovers in 14.6 minutes per game across 37 games played (5 starts) on 38.6/32.6/78.3 (3.6 3PA, 0.6 FTA) shooting splits (49 True Shooting)

Postseason Stats: 3.7 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in four minutes per game across three games played on 42.9/20/100 shooting (3/7, 1/5, 4/4)

Expectations

Coming into the season, Bones Hyland had a clear role as the backup point guard behind Russell Westbrook. While there was a faction of fans that wanted Bones to start due to his youth, upside, and shooting, that was never going to happen. Still, with Russ being old and inconsistent, it was reasonable to assume that Bones would have a real impact on the Clippers, even with an iffy fit alongside Norm Powell on the bench. For play, the hope was for Bones to provide shooting, playmaking, and energy, while hopefully improving his decision-making and defense.

Reality

Unfortunately for Bones, the Harden trade disrupted that vision. Bones played great the first four games before the trade, but his play dipped significantly the four games after, when he was getting a blend of back-of-rotation and garbage time minutes. From that point, November 10, Bones would play in only a handful of garbage time performances until March 1, when he re-entered the rotation when Russ got injured.

That time period was mostly a good one for the Clippers, containing as it did their now infamous 26-5 stretch in the middle of the season, but it was a bad one for Bones. The Clippers garbage time unit was absolutely abysmal, nearly blowing several massive leads with bad turnovers, sloppy offense, and lackadaisical defense. And Bones, if not the cause of the issues, was also not the solution, lacking the control and command to keep the third string organized. There were also rumblings of dissatisfaction with Bones’ work in staying ready, culminating with him getting sent back to Los Angeles along with PJ Tucker in the last game before the All Star Break.

When Russ was out after the All Star Break, Bones got his chance, playing steady-ish minutes as the backup to James Harden. He mostly played well, even though the Clippers went 4-3 over that stretch and did not play great as a team. Then, on March 14, James Harden was ruled out as well, and Bones got to start alongside PG and Kawhi against the Bulls. He put together one of the best guard performances by a Clipper all year, scoring 17 points on 9 shots, dishing 11 assists to 1 turnover, and adding 5 rebounds and 4 steals. It was a virtuoso performance that showed all of Bones’ upside in one game.

Sadly, things got ugly after that. The following game Bones started again, and was pretty bad in a loss to the Pelicans. The game after that, he was abysmal in a rout at the hands of the Hawks, tossing away 5 turnovers in 11 minutes and going 0-4 from the field, with awful body language and sulking to boot. Brandon Boston Jr., of all people, played over him the next game or two until Russ retuned, and Bones departed the rotation for most of the rest of the season. He only played again for real when the Clippers rested key players at the end of the season, and had a monster 37 point, 9 assist game against the Suns before a lesser outing against the Jazz and then a DNP-CD to close the year.

Bones’ season-long numbers look quite bad, especially his efficiency. This was definitely a step back for him. However, if you remove the games where he played less than 10 minutes (or roughly his garbage time stats), his field goal percentage jumps from 38.6% to 41.6%, and his three-point shooting goes from 32.6 to 34.5%. Not great, certainly, but a lot better, and a sign both of the small sample size of his season and Bones’ effectiveness in a larger role. In fact, if you look at only the 12 games Bones played 20 or more minutes, his shooting goes all the way up to 45.3/38.3.

Thus, it’s hard to make much of Bones’ season. His poor attitude is inexcusable (though his teammates seem to like hm and he was cheerful enough on the bench most of the time) and a real issue for him. But in terms of judging his talent and what he can actually offer the Clippers, we learned next to nothing this year. And that’s a shame.

Future with Clippers

Bones has one more year left on his rookie-scale deal, for just over $4.1M. What happens to Bones probably largely depends on the Clippers’ larger offseason moves. If James Harden and Russell Westbrook both return, the Clippers probably won’t want to keep Bones as the 3^rd string PG – it’s not really doing either party any favors. If one of those guys leaves, Bones’ chances of being on the roster next season will go up a significant margin.

Even though I think the Clippers should keep Bones – he has by far the most talent and upside of any of their young guys – I have a gut feeling he will be moved this summer. The combination of guys ahead of him and the attitude issues will, I think, have the Clippers looking elsewhere for a reserve point guard this summer.

2024 Clippers Exit Interview: Bones Hyland
Robert Flom

Our player preview series for the 2024 Clippers season continues with Bones Hyland, the Clippers’ backup point guard.

Basic Information

Height: 6’3

Weight: 175 pounds

Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard

Age: 23 (birthday is today!)

Years in NBA: 2

Key Clippers Stats: 10.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.1 turnovers in 18.9 minutes per game across 14 games played (0 starts) on 40.1/35.1/75 shooting splits with 51.8% TS in regular season

Contract Status: $2.3M this season, team option of $4.1M for next season

Expectations

Bones Hyland is the Clippers’ locked in backup point guard for the 2024 season behind Russell Westbrook. In fact, since Jason Preston is likely to be waived or traded before the season, Bones is really the only other true point guard on the roster outside of Russ (Terance Mann can play point guard but the Clippers clearly don’t want him to). The Clippers didn’t give up a ton for Bones at last trade deadline (just a couple of 2^nd round picks) but they clearly like him a lot, and his energy, shooting, and pace bring elements that the Clippers are clearly lacking. Bones should get 15-18 minutes per game pretty steadily off the bench, play more when he’s hot, and start when Russ is out. It’s maybe not the role that he wants, but it’s a consistent one unless he really messes up.

Strengths

Bones Hyland is one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA. That might sound like a wild claim considering he’s a third-year player who is averaging 36.8% from deep so far in his NBA career, but it’s true. Shooting at the NBA level is not just about percentages (apologies to all of the Luke Kennard stans out there) – it’s about volume, difficulty, and variety of attempts. And Bones checks all of those boxes. He launched 13.7 threes per 100 possessions on the Clippers, the highest on the team by a mile, with Paul George next at 10.8 and nobody else above 10 (Kennard was at 8.9). He’s also adept at shooting off the catch as well as off the dribble, and can drain threes from up to 30 feet out. Of Bones’ threes, 80.8% were assisted, which sounds high but was actually third-lowest on the Clippers (of guys with meaningful volume) behind Kawhi and Paul George (Kennard was at 93.2% and Eric Gordon at 89.4%). Bones’ ability to take and make deep threes off the dribble opens up things for the rest of the offense, as he needs to be guarded 26+ feet from the rim. Bones can also play off-ball, and his overall shooting is simply a highly potent NBA skill.

Despite being known as a shooter and gunner, Bones is a very good passer. He was 3^rd on the 2023 Clippers (among rotation players) in assists per 100 possessions as well as assist percentage. Bones is particularly adept in the pick and roll, leveraging the threat of his shooting to get past defenders or make pocket passes to rolling big men. His solid-enough height for a point guard also enables him to pass over the top of defenses, including making some truly difficult cross-court dimes. Bones might be shot-happy, but he’s a good enough playmaker to be a lead guard running an offense, and considering his reputation as a wild player, he also doesn’t turn the ball over much.

One of Bones’ natural attributes can’t be quantified, and that’s the energy and joy with which he plays. The Clippers were a slog to watch nearly all of last season, and while good (and even great) teams can be tough watches, there was something even worse about a mediocre team being so miserable. Bones is fun. He makes a conscious effort to get the crowd involved, and was instantly a favorite at Staples Center. Maybe Bones’ energy and verve won’t lead to wins, but it will make the viewing experience better, and that’s a huge plus for fans.

Weaknesses

Bones Hyland’s biggest weakness is obvious; he’s a poor (at best) defender at the NBA level. Bones generally has good instincts and his quickness and wingspan enable him to force steals as well as bother passing lanes, but he’s just too physically weak against most NBA players except other very small guards. He’s liable to get pushed around in the post, brushed aside on drives to the rim, and crunched on every screen. His lateral quickness isn’t bad, but until he puts on some bulk and strength and won’t be shouldered aside so easily he will be a below-average defender.

The paradox of Bones is that part of what makes him so fun – the ability and willingness to launch threes four possessions in a row and attempt audacious shots and passes – is also what makes him an unreliable player. This is especially true as a point guard/lead ballhandler or playmaker, as you really need those kinds of players to be a steadying presence at the highest level. If Bones is going to become a starting-level player, he needs to get a better understanding of when to shift to scoring and playmaking modes, and more importantly, get a proper balance. The smarter he gets about how he runs the offense, the more effective he’ll be, and the more coaches will trust him.

However, it’s not just when he decides to shoot that makes Bones an incomplete offensive player. It’s that his scoring inside the three-point art is decidedly weak. Even though he gets to the rim and paint quite a bit (34% of his shots as a Clipper, and 29% across his career, come from 0-3 or 3-10 feet), and the rest of his shots are from deep (he limits inefficient midrange jumpers), he’s a below-average scorer at every level. After finishing well at the rim his rookie season, he shot just 61.8% there his sophomore year, and has been an abysmal 29.9% on shots from 3-10 feet (floater range) across his career. This is partially on decision-making, as Bones will attempt shots he has no chance at, but is also part of the lack of physical strength, as he can’t push through any defenders. If Bones can’t get stronger at the rim or develop a legit floater game, he will remain a scorer from three and transition only.

Summary

Bones Hyland is a unique player on the 2024 Clippers in that he is someone who should both help them win this season and has huge upside for future teams. If anything I wish he had a larger role, but if he takes a step forward after a rough sophomore season he could be set up to be the Clippers’ point guard of the future. He needs to work on finishing, decision-making, and defense, but he should be a fan favorite for all that he offers, and hopefully helps bring a pep and verve to invigorate the sometimes moribund Clippers’ attack.

Clippers 2023-2024 Season Preview: Bones Hyland
Robert Flom

Our exit interview series on the 2023 Clippers continues with a look at mid-season acquisition Bones Hyland.

Basic Information

Height: 6’3

Weight: 173 pounds

Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard

Age: 22

Years in NBA: 2

Key Regular Season Stats: 10.8 points, 3.4 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.1 blocks, 1.1 turnovers in 18.9 minutes per game across 14 games (zero starts) on 40.1/35.1/75 (5.3 3PA/1.4 FTA) shooting splits

Postseason Stats: 8.6 points, 0.8 assists, 0.8 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.2 blocks, 0.8 turnovers in 16.4 minutes per game across five games (zero starts) on 34.1/25/80 (4.0 3PA/2.0 FTA) shooting splits.

Expectations

At the trade deadline, the acquisitions of Eric Gordon and Mason Plumlee were considered to be more impact-now type moves than trading for Bones Hyland. But Hyland has some of the most upside out of anyone on the Clippers roster. He showed some of that potential during his rookie season with the Denver Nuggets, making an impact right away and putting up double-digits in scoring. He also made an impact in the playoffs for the Nuggets.

His second season didn’t quite go as planned. He found himself getting sporadic playing time and social media lit up with talk of him potentially being not all that thrilled with the way he was being used in Denver. By the time the deadline rolled around, it was evident that a change of scenery was needed.

Reality

Clipper nation was actually thrilled for the most part when Hyland joined the team. During his brief time in Denver, he showed the ability to bring a lot of what the Clippers lacked. More specifically, ball-handling, playmaking, and the ability to get downhill and attack.

His playing time fluctuated with the Clippers as it did in Denver, but Hyland was adamant that he was fine with that because he had a much better understanding from the coaching staff as to what his role would be. Each time he got minutes though, he seemed to produce.

He was often a sparkplug for the second unit providing much needed playmaking and scoring. Although he had primarily been used as an off-guard, he showed that he can be a facilitator if needed. He also was able to create his own shot. And although the playoff percentages might not show it, he was a very capable three-point shooter.

In fact, by the time the postseason rolled around, Hyland had cemented himself in the rotation as an immediate impact player off the bench. After a string of games in March where he racked up DNPs, to his credit he stayed ready and he showed why many Clipper fans were excited about acquiring him. The only downside was that he sometimes had a tendency to try and do a little too much, but he’s a young player and that can be harnessed.

Future with Clippers

Hyland is under contract for at least one more year before he has a team option on his contract heading into the 2024-25 season. He is still on his rookie deal and as such, the Clippers have him on a steal, essentially paying him pennies compared to his value/production.

For now, he should be groomed as the backup point guard. His skill-set and production are necessary and he should continue to be a mainstay in the rotation.

2023 Clippers Exit Interview: Bones Hyland
David Yapkowitz

Our last scouting report for the new Clippers is on spunky second-year guard Bones Hyland.

Basic Information

Height: 6’3

Weight: 173 pounds

Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard

Age: 22

Years in NBA: 2

2023 Stats: 12.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 0.7 steals in 19.5 minutes per game on 39.9% shooting (42.5% on twos), 37.8% from three (5.7 attempts), and 86.6% from the line (2.0 attempts).

Strengths

Shooting: The highest volume three-point shooter on the Clippers, Paul George, takes 11.1 per 100 possessions. This season, Bones Hyland has taken 14.3 per 100 possessions – more than 5 more than Norman Powell, Marcus Morris, Luke Kennard, or any non-PG Clippers player. Considering that volume, a 37.8% average is extremely good, and shows just how capable of a shooter Bones is. That’s not all. In the Eric Gordon write-up, I mentioned that only 75% of Gordon’s threes are assisted, much lower than Kennard or Reggie Jackson. Well, only 54.9% of Bones’ threes are assisted, so he creates nearly half of his looks by himself. Bones’ possession of four critical three-point capacities – volume, efficiency, creation, and depth (he can knock them down from 30 feet regularly) – is extraordinarily rare, even more so for a young player. That sort of shooting opens up the offense for both Bones and everyone else on the court. His shooting is special.

Passing: Even though his raw assist numbers don’t look great, Bones’ 21.7 Assist percentage would be 4^th on the Clippers behind just John Wall, Jason Preston, and Paul George. The eye test backs this up. Bones can run a pick and roll, he will make the extra pass despite his own scoring capabilities, and he has real flair for getting guys open looks. The raw ability as a passer and playmaker is there, which raises his play well beyond just “gunner”. To put a common phrase that’s been all the discussion in Clippers’ circles of late – there is a “true point guard” in Bones Hyland, even with his score-first attitude.

Exuberance: There’s something to be said for the ability to ignite home crowds and silence opposing ones. Not all players have it – in fact, most do not. Bones Hyland does. He became a fan favorite very early in his rookie season, partially for his dazzling play, but also because he just has an innate aptitude to connect with the crowd and build momentum. It’s something the Clippers have really been lacking the past couple years since the departures of Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley, and it’s something Bones Hyland could help bring to the table. More than anything, the Clippers have played with a distinct lack of joy this year – and that’s something Bones can rectify.

Weaknesses

Defense: Every single advanced metric paints Bones Hyland as one of the worst defenders in the NBA, and the eye test backs it up. On-ball, his scrawny frame means that he gets obliterated by every screen, and that most players can push right by him. Off-ball, while the effort is usually willing, Hyland is simply not great at rotations and understanding where to be. The result is a player whose teams bleed points when he’s on the floor far too often. Bones can still improve there, but he’s a long, long, long way from being even competent on that end. That means if he’s not providing a lot on offense, he’s going to be a net negative more often than not.

Decision-Making: While Bones has great talent on offense and can make excellent plays as a scorer and passer, he frequently tries to do too much or makes the flashy play instead of the simple one. This can lead to bad turnovers and poor shots – the opposite of the momentum gaining plays mentioned above. Sometimes Bones will pull up for a 26 footer early in the clock when the game situation just doesn’t call for it. The crazy thing is, he can make that shot a good amount of the time! But when he misses, more often, those kinds of shots are deflating and can lead to fastbreaks the other way. If he’s just wiser about shot selection and learns how to run an offense a bit more, he can go from “bench gunner” to “starting-level guard”, even with the defensive woes.

Fit

On one hand, the Clippers could really use Bones’ verve, shooting, and ability to create open looks for himself and others. On the other hand, they’re a team hoping to win a championship, and it’s tough to play someone who’s currently as unreliable (and just so bad defensively) as Bones. The more pressing matter for Bones’ fit is just who else is on the team. There are nine players who seem clearly ahead of him in the rotation, and Ty Lue has mostly gone with a nine-man rotation this year. Maybe he widens it to give Bones a shot and to keep the veterans rested down the stretch, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

Long-term, however, Bones is a great fit. As has been noted many times of late, the Clippers don’t have a “real” point guard in their rotation. The only other classical point guard on the roster is fellow second-year guard Jason Preston who has, to be frank, not shown nearly as much as Bones. Even if the Clippers have a very good postseason, it seems likely there will be lots of down roster change this offseason due to age, and Bones is a prime candidate for a larger role going forward. His shooting, ballhandling, and creation honestly makes him an excellent fit next to Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, and I think at some point, the Clippers will want to give him a true shot at big minutes.

Bones Hyland: Clippers’ Scouting Report & Fit
Robert Flom

Our trade deadline roundtable series concludes with a review of the acquisition of guard Bones Hyland from the Nuggets for two second-round picks.

Shapan Debnath: A

I don’t expect Bones to be a big difference maker this year: the Nuggets shopped him to a contender knowing he’d be unlikely to help them in the playoffs this year. But, from an asset management standpoint, he’s a fantastic swing that has a ton of upside on a team that barely has any youth making a real dent in the rotation. We were pretty vocal about wanting Bones in his draft, and while I think there is real downside to a tough shot maker from deep that is slight of frame and can’t score close to the rim (some concerning Brandon Jennings vibes), he has some real star potential and at minimum feels like a guy that can be a microwave off the bench. Worth the swing for minimum cost.

David Mendez-Yapkowitz: B

Hyland doesn’t figure to be featured in the rotation this season and he’s a developmental piece. He’s a talented player but he did have some issues with the Nuggets in terms of efficiency and shot selection. It’s possible the Clippers send him down to Ontario to get some reps in with their G League squad. Overall, it’s not a bad move. He has some upside as an instant offense type player off the bench and his best-case scenario is probably a high-level starter. The Clippers have done a good job using their G League team and getting their young guys valuable reps, and they should do the same for Hyland.

Niels Pineda: A

Although Bones Hyland may not be my favorite type of prospect (ball dominant scorer that can’t defend), I have long been saying that the Clippers need to get younger and more exciting as a team.  Bones does just that.  What he lacks in defense and passing, he makes up for with electrifying plays and absurd range.  The All-Rookie guard will undoubtedly have us up off of our seats with some dazzling plays and infectious swagger.  Best of all?  We got the high upside Sophomore for only two 2nd rounders!  The value alone made this a no brainer.

Lucas Hann: A

The sophomore guard has been terrible this year.  He gets his numbers, but the Nuggets–the best team in basketball–get blown out in his minutes regardless of the lineup he’s in due to his erratic shot selection, poor finishing in the paint, turnovers, and defense.  So, why do I give the Clippers an A?  Because he’s still the player that was much more competent as a bench scoring guard for Denver last season, earning All-Rookie honors, and the cost of LAC’s own 2024 and 2025 2nds (both presumably 50 or later) is essentially 0.  There’s some stuff to work out for Bones in the short-term, but I genuinely think he has quality starter upside due to his scoring/playmaking ability and truly elite three-point shooting (the combo of efficiency, volume, diversity, and degree of difficulty is already at Damian Lillard levels).  The Clippers, who are not positioned to get high-pedigree prospects anytime soon, just had one drop into their laps.  The 22-year-old will compete in the Rising Stars challenge at All-Star Weekend.

Ralston Dacanay: B+

This was probably the easiest move the Clippers’ front office ended up making Thursday, which makes sense considering it was the first of the three that got done. I was a big fan of Bones heading into his draft and it pained me to see how fun he was to watch as a rookie, especially with a conference rival. Seeing how rapidly he’s gone from beloved to headache in Denver this season has tempered my expectations for him a bit, but he’s certainly worth the flier considering the low cost. If the presence of Bones in LA also helps just a little bit in warding off the Clippers from looking at a certain point guard in the potential buyout market, or getting some consistency out of Marcus Morris Sr., this move is a home run for me.

Robert Flom: A-

In terms of sheer value, getting Bones Hyland in a trade for two second round picks is an easy A grade. Bones is a ridiculously capable shooter who also has ball-handling and passing chops. Even though he’s an awful defender, he’s young and will improve on that end to some extent. So why is this anything less than a full A, or even an A+, considering how on the Bones bandwagon I was before the 2021 draft? Well, the reason the Nuggets were willing to sell low on him was due to some attitude and locker room issues. And while Mike Malone can be a bit of a taskmaster and the Nuggets did do him dirty in some regards, I’m always wary about that sort of stuff, especially since Bones is going to a situation where his playing time might be limited. I hope this doesn’t crop up, but it’s something to keep an eye on.

213 Hoops Roundtable: The Bones Hyland Trade
Robert Flom