John Leyba-USA TODAY Sports
Report: Raptors Among Teams to Show 'Some' Interest in Bones Hyland
Bones Hyland is the latest name to pop up on the Toronto Raptors' radar.
Toronto is reportedly one of multiple organizations along with the New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves to register "some level of interest" in the Denver Nuggets' second-year guard, according to the Denver Post's Mike Singer.
Hyland, 22, was among the league's most promising young players last season, a rising star selected No. 26 in the 2021 NBA Draft. He averaged 10.1 points per game off the bench for Denver and appeared well on his way to becoming a valuable rotation player for the Nuggets.
This season, though, things haven't exactly gone as planned for Hyland who has butted heads with Nuggets coach Michael Malone and has fallen out of the rotation in Denver. It's become almost a certainty now that Hyland will be dealt ahead of Thursday's trade deadline.
Toronto's interest in Hyland makes sense as the team looks to pivot toward a younger core, but the 6-foot-3, 173-pound Hyland is among the NBA's worst defenders making him an awkward fit in the Raptors' system. He'd be ideally suited as a high-volume scorer off the bench, but it's tough to find a deal that makes sense for both teams.
Hyland is averaging 12.1 points and three assists per game this season while shooting 39.9% from the floor and 37.8% from three-point range.
Further Reading
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Report: Raptors unlikely to move Pascal Siakam despite widespread interest
Raptors end road trip on a high but changes loom as Toronto returns home
