Denver Nuggets guard Bones Hyland is expected to have a bigger role with the Denver Nuggets next season after the departure of Monte Morris and Will Barton. The sophomore guard is expected to be a “spark plug” off the bench for Denver.
“I knew what the move was,” Hyland told Nuggets beat writer Mike Singer. “They were already contacting me before and letting me know what was happening.
The Nuggets have great expectations for the guard out of Delaware after a quite promising rookie year with the organization.
“After the moves even happened, the coaches called me, players called me, like, ‘Time to just go out there and be Bizzy. It’s a big opportunity for you.’ And they tell me every day, like, ‘You’re going to have a big role, big opportunity, a lot more minutes, just go out there and be yourself.”
In the upcoming 2022-23 season, Hyland is expected to come off the bench for the Nuggets. Last season, the guard averaged 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, while shooting 40.3 percent from the field in 69 games played.
Denver will be a different team next season with Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray returning healthy alongside back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic. In addition to that, Denver added veteran leadership with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ism Smith.
After the trades, GM Calvin Booth showed that he believes Hyland can become a bigger part of the Nuggets’ rotation next season. His 40 percent shooting from three along with an average of 12.8 points per game after the ASG game certainly backs up this belief.