(Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
On their way to their first NBA championship last season, the Denver Nuggets made a minor trade by sending guard Bones Hyland to the Los Angeles Clippers while getting big man Thomas Bryant in return.
The trade in question involved four teams, but perhaps some fans don’t remember it, as there weren’t any big-name players involved.
Nuggets GM Calvin Booth implied, per The Ringer via NBACentral, that he made the trade because of Hyland’s issues on the defensive end.
Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth explains why he traded Bones Hyland
“I knew you couldn’t have two guys that couldn’t guard, and we couldn’t have two guys that were young and kind of more ‘me guys.’ Mike makes $30 million. He’s one of the best shooters in the NBA. So,… pic.twitter.com/VV5Y7KZrd8
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 16, 2023
Hyland, who was the No. 26 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, is entering his third season, and once he was dealt, he proved to be a viable piece for the Clippers.
His numbers — 10.8 points and 3.4 assists a game with the Clippers — weren’t impressive, but he has given them a decent backup point guard behind Russell Westbrook.
Without Hyland, Denver went with Reggie Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at backup point guard behind Jamal Murray, especially during their triumphant playoff run.
This season, as they look to defend their NBA title, the Nuggets will have less depth than they had last season, but they will still have Jackson, who is going into his 13th season, to back-up Murray.
It will be key for them to develop their young players, such as Christian Braun, Zeke Nnaji, and Jay Huff, in order to have a strong enough bench to withstand the long NBA season and keep their starters fresh.
Still, just about everyone expects the Nuggets to have a legitimate shot of repeating as world champs this year.
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