Denver Nuggets: What first-round pick Bones Hyland brings DEN

Mike Malone and the Denver Nuggets should be celebrating in the Mile High City after selecting Bones Hyland in the 2021 NBA Draft. The former VCU guard was considered to be one of the sleepers of the draft with tremendous upside. When it came to the 26th overall pick, Denver turned in the card, and they essentially grabbed the steal of the draft.

Hyland checks off several boxes. For one, he has tremendous shooting ability, as evidenced by his time in Richmond. Second, he has the ability to create his own shots, which is vital in today’s game. Finally, he can provide a spark to the offense. Last season Denver, while very formidable, needed a presence outside of Nikola Jokic to help create a basket, and Hyland does just that.

Mike Malone and the Denver Nuggets should be celebrating in the Mile High City after selecting Bones Hyland in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Above all, however, Hyland knows how to battle through adversity. Before enrolling at VCU, Hyland faced a tough challenge after losing his grandmother and other family members in a house fire, in which he survived but suffered leg injuries. Following the accident, there was the possibility that he may never play again, but that didn’t happen.

Instead, Hyland worked his way back and enrolled at VCU and gave the Rams instant firepower on their offense while also bringing them notoriety. In his last season at VCU, Hyland averaged 19.5 points per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 37.1 percent beyond the arc. Oh, and with all of that, he wound up becoming the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year.

To make it short, he is a terrific player that has the potential to blossom into a real threat in the NBA.

Now that he is a member of the Denver Nuggets, the question is how Bones Hyland will be utilized in coach Malone’s scheme. The answer is starting him off as a player that comes off the bench, primarily with the second unit. Denver already has Jamal Murray at the guard position, and Hyland would be better utilized as a reserve.

However, should they insert him into the starting lineup, Hyland will mostly be dishing out assists to Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Jokic as they control the paint. However, teams must be aware that Hyland is not afraid to shoot the basketball, especially beyond the arc. He proved it in several games, including the Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals against Dayton, in which he scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

At the end of the day, however, it doesn’t matter what your college statistics were. The NBA is a rough business, and their bottom line is production unless you happen to be one of the mega superstars, of course.

However, Bones Hyland is more than capable of producing, and the Denver Nuggets should be thrilled to have his services. Hyland is a resilient individual who plays not only with his talents but with his heart as well. The Mile High City has likely struck gold, and the rewards will be well worth it if it pans out.