NBA Trade Idea: Spurs Acquire Clippers' Bones Hyland?
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The San Antonio Spurs are expected to be mostly quiet before the Feb. 8 NBA Trade Deadline, but there is still time for the Spurs to make a move. Adding a glitzy star like Dejounte Murray is becoming more and more unlikely, but the Spurs could make a smaller move to bolster the young core and provide Victor Wembanyama with some support.
The Spurs have minimal point guard depth, with Tre Jones being the only true point guard on the roster. Blake Wesley and Malaki Branham can and have played point guard, but they are both well-suited for off-ball play. Ever since the experiment of having Jeremy Sochan run the floor ended, the Spurs have found success pairing Wembanyama with a point guard. Unfortunately, there is only Jones to fit the bill.
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One name on the NBA trade market who fits the bill to help the Spurs is Bones Hyland. The 23-year-old guard is languishing on the Los Angeles Clippers bench, losing playing time after the Clippers traded for James Harden. With a decreasing amount of minutes for Hyland, the Clippers are reportedly looking for buyers.
The Clippers are first in the league in three-point percentage but 19th in attempts, so adding a win-now piece who can increase shooting volume like Doug McDermott fits the bill.
Mock trade: SAS receives Bones Hyland, PJ Tucker, LAC receives Doug McDermott.
McDermott is a free agent this summer, so the Clippers will have some flexibility if they want to tweak the roster. Hyland and Tucker are both under contract through next season, and Tucker would likely be bought out by San Antonio.
Hyland was an effective backup guard for the Nuggets and Clippers before his minutes reduction, averaging 10.9 points and 2.9 assists in 19 minutes of action across his first two seasons, and he is a career 36 percent three-point shooter.
Hyland showed flashes of potential greatness in his rookie season in Denver but didn’t have a chance of receiving minutes on a win-now Clippers team with James Harden and Russell Westbrook in the backcourt. Instead of flipping McDermott for picks (or nothing!), the Spurs could take a chance on Hyland while his stock is low.
