Denver Stiffs - LIVE 2021 NBA Draft Day Story Stream

Bones Hyland to the Denver Nuggets; reacting to the NBA Draft with Gordon Gross | Pickaxe and Roll

2021-07-30T01:34:30-06:00

Ryan and Gordon share their thoughts on Denver’s draft night and what it means for the Nuggets going forward

Ryan Blackburn is joined by Gordon Gross, senior writer at Denver Stiffs, to discuss the 2021 NBA Draft and the Denver Nuggets selecting Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland at 26th overall. They talk about the strengths and weaknesses, player comparisons, what this means for the Nuggets in free agency, and more. Then, they revisit the rest of the draft and share their takes about the rest of the league.

Get to know Bones Hyland

2021-07-29T23:03:07-06:00

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlantic 10 2020-21 Player of the Year was selected with the No. 26 overall selection in the draft by the Denver Nuggets.

When the Nuggets drafted Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland with the No. 26 overall selection in the 2020-21 NBA Draft, the 20-year-old from Wilmington, Delaware was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of being able to play in the NBA.

Hyland, who goes by the nickname “Bizzy Bones,” became the third player from the state of Delaware to be selected in the NBA Draft. Measuring in at 6’3” and just 170 pounds, the skinny scorer will join a veteran group of teammates who are fresh off a playoff run that ended in the second round at the hands of the eventual Western Conference Champion Phoenix Suns.

Hyland had a breakthrough season during his sophomore year at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. While he played primarily as a point guard his freshman season, he moved over one spot his sophomore season, and the shift helped unlock his ability to get the ball in the basket. He demonstrated an ability to hit deep, stepback 3-pointers off the dribble, leading the Atlantic 10 with 69 made 3-pointers last season.

With the 26th pick, the @nuggets select Bones Hyland!

⚫ #ThisIsRamNation #RamsInThePros #LetsGoVCU pic.twitter.com/JUwrGLNoKy
— VCU Basketball (@VCU_Hoops) July 30, 2021

Here’s a few facts about the Nuggets newest player.

Hyland has a love of for the game

Bones wasn’t highly recruited coming out of high school, and has had to put in the work to get to this point of his life. He received offers from smaller schools like Delaware, La Salle, Rhode Island, Temple, Hofstra, and San Diego State before settling on VCU. He only started 9 of the Rams 31 games his freshman year, but put in the work and was able to find a starting spot his sophomore year.

When he’s on the court, you can tell he’s a player that finds joy in his teammates’ successes just as much as his own, if not more. He’s constantly a source of joy out there, cheering on his teammates, encouraging them, and helping electrify the gym with his talents on both ends of the court.

If you check out his Instagram page, it’s nothing but basketball. This is a guy that lives, breathes, and dies hoops, and he should be a great culture fit with the Nuggets.

Hyland suffered a tragic loss of his grandmother during high school

You can tell Bones lives every day with humility after suffering the loss of his grandmother during a house fire in 2018. One evening in March, the house Hyland was in caught fire, and he had to jump out of a second-story window to escape. His grandmother and 11-month-old cousin perished in the fire, while he suffered a torn patellar tendon during the process that required surgery to repair. Hyland was able to recover, both emotionally and physically, and has used that experience to become a more mature, spiritual individual.

GOODMORNING EVERYONEEEEE LETS GOOOOOOOOOO TODAY SOME TEAM IS GONNA GET A WINNER, PASSIONATE , HUMBLE , FUNNY , JOYFUL , ALL STAR, ALL OF THE ABOVE TONIGHT !!!!!!!!!! , I’m just so THANKFUL THANK YOU GOD …
— Bizzy (@BizzyBones11) July 29, 2021

He has a talent for music

His talent isn’t the same as one of the Nuggets first round picks from last year, Zeke Nnaji, but Hyland does have a passion for rapping.

“I started rapping because I faced the house tragedy,” Hyland said in an interview. I just found a different passion and love, and it was rapping – releasing my thoughts through the mic, and it would help me. It was very therapeutic for me.”

You can check out some of his videos on his YouTube page.

Roundtable: Reacting to Denver selecting Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland

2021-07-29T22:39:25-06:00

Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Stiffs Writers provide their thoughts on Denver’s newest player, Bones Hyland.

What was your initial reaction when you found out Bones Hyland was the pick?

Brandon Ewing (@B_Skip1717): I was a little surprised considering where the board was at, but Bones Hyland really does seem like a Tim Connelly guy. By all reports it sounds like Hyland is an absolute gym rat who should fit in perfectly with the Nuggets culture. Hyland is a dynamic scorer and will give the Nuggets immediate offense whether that’s in the starting lineup or off the bench. Bones will have to improve defensively, but his offensive capabilities leave little doubt because he can absolutely light it up from anywhere on the court.

Gordon Gross (@GMoneyNuggs): A bit of shock honestly. Not about Bones, but that Denver had its pick of guards who could likely start immediately - or at least at some point this season - and were terrific defenders who can get a bucket too. Denver needed a replacement for Gary Harris, had a couple available to them, and passed on that opportunity to add a player who is a dynamite scorer but not the defender Denver needs long-term.

Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn): A bit of disappointment. I know better than to go against what Tim Connelly and co. believe will help the team though. Bones Hyland wasn’t initially on my radar as someone the Nuggets would end up with, and after watching Denver struggle to stop anyone in the playoffs, it’s hard not to be disappointed to see Denver go offense-focused with this selection. However, Bones can ball. There’s no question about it. He will help Denver score. I’m simply worried about the defense.

Daniel Lewis (@minutemandan): I was pretty excited. One of the Nuggets biggest needs was perimeter scoring, and Bones was one of the best scorers in the draft. With a 6-foot-9-inch wingspan, a reliable jumper, and craftiness around the rim, he’s another option on offense for a team that can really light up the scoreboard. He’ll have time to develop his rookie year, and I expect him to continue working on his craft with the Nuggets G-League team.

Would you have gone in a different direction with any of the other players on the board or is Hyland a nice value pick at 26 overall?

Ewing: It felt like Hyland could have gone a little higher, so the Nuggets drafting him at 26 feels like pretty good value. I thought they might go with Jared Butler, but the medicals might have been a problem considering he fell all the way to 40. There were a ton of solid guards available when the Nuggets drafted so the fact they took Bones Hyland makes me think he was their guy. Hyland plays with a chip on his shoulder and feels like a perfect culture fit with the Nuggets, so hopefully Denver just got a first round steal when we look back on this draft in a few years.

Gross: Hyland’s value is fine. He has a couple of NBA skills already (shooting and motor) and works extremely hard on his weaknesses. More time in the gym will help him against bigger guys, and his shot isn’t going away. But he’s likely not big enough to play next to Jamal Murray when Murray gets back, despite his length. It looks like a floor pick where they wanted the guaranteed bench player and someone who could put the ball in the basket - something the bench unit has struggled with for a while now. Someone has to score when MPJ and Jokic (and eventually Murray) are sitting, and the Nuggets picked Hyland as that guy. I was just looking for a different primary skill, because Denver is facing a bunch of killers at guard and on the wing in the West and Hyland is not likely to slow them down much early in his career.

Blackburn: Jaden Springer and Miles McBride were my two top options. They were two of the best on-ball defenders in the draft with elite measure-ables and two of the smarter, more aggressive guards. That’s where I would have gone, especially because I believe in both of them developing offensively. If not those two, then Ayo Dosunmu or Cam Thomas would have been my next two choices.

Lewis: I don’t think the Nuggets need defenders as much as they need scorers. If Hyland really is a dynamic scoring threat in the NBA like he was in college, the Nuggets can teach him how to defend in their scheme. I think it’s easier to teach players how to become adequate defenders than it is to teach players how to score.

Where do you see Hyland fitting in with Denver? Can he play as early as next season?

Ewing: Not sure Hyland will contribute right out of the gate, but I think he will eventually have a role with the Nuggets next season. Something that has flown a little under the radar these past few years is the Nuggets struggles to score from their bench unit at times. Hyland should immediately be able to help with that and hopefully grown into a starter for the Nuggets in the future. Hyland will have to put on a little more weight and grow defensively, but offense is certainly something he could provide the Nuggets in year one.

Gross: I do think he can play next year - and will. Denver is currently very short on guards and the ones it does have are, well, short. Ironically, while Hyland is a little short and light at the 2 guard, his 6’9 wingspan is better than most of the guards on the roster and they need that scoring punch badly. He is a smart player - a bit overeager on jumping passing lanes for steals, but it’s easier to turn down a player’s enthusiasm than to make them turn it up. Hyland will get minutes, most likely at the 2 off the bench. He’s not a point guard at this stage of his career.

Blackburn: I see Hyland initially starting the season on the bench, perhaps spending some time in the G League. Eventually though, he will get his chance to support the Nuggets bench unit as a scorer, which he can certainly do. Whether he stays in the rotation when Jamal Murray comes back remains to be seen, but I expect his role to more or less mirror that of R.J. Hampton last year before he was moved, playing spot minutes due to injury and much more if he flourishes.

Lewis: I don’t think he’ll play much. If the Nuggets don’t sign a guard in free agency he could be a fifth or sixth option for them, but this is a team that is going to try to play more experienced players more often.

What do you grade the pick?

Ewing: I’m all about getting your guy if you're not selecting in the top 20 and the Nuggets seem to have accomplished that with Hyland. Even though there were some other players on the board I might have preferred to Hyland, I think he can be a solid pick for Denver. None of the players selected in the draft are a sure thing, but Hyland’s offensive ability certainly feels like one. If he can bulk up and get better defensively I think Hyland could have a solid NBA career and help the Nuggets be successful. B

Gross: If the other guards had been drafted already, I would think this pick was just fine. Denver filled a need and I like Bones as a person and in the role Denver will likely deploy him in. There’s upside in his game too defensively and as a lead ball-handler. But for the immediate need Denver had, it feels like they leaned again on a player that wasn’t the best fit for their needs, and Denver really needs to start focusing on addressing all their needs. These Jokic years are precious. B

Blackburn: I’m not going to sugarcoat it. I don’t think this was the right selection. I could be wrong though. I didn’t think the Zeke Nnaji pick last year was a good selection, and that turned out fine. Maybe the same happens with Hyland. He’s going to have to win me over though, and that probably involves putting on some muscle and showing that he can do the things role players need to do to win basketball games. Defense, playmaking for others, and decision making were Hyland’s biggest weaknesses at the college level. Maybe it changes in the pros. We will see. C

Lewis: Grades are relative to expectations, right? Hyland isn’t Jalen Green. If he winds up being a rotation player off the bench, that’s a good pick for the Nuggets at No. 26. If anything, he shows off his skills as a scorer in the G-League and the Nuggets are able to flip him for a veteran contributor in the next couple years. Best case scenario, he becomes a microwave scoring threat that works his way into the rotation towards the end of the season. Worst case, he’s an emergency guard that’ll be playing alongside Markus Howard. B+

Grading the Denver Nuggets’ Nah’Shon Hyland pick

2021-07-29T21:30:00-06:00

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

With the 26th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets select… Nah’Shon Lee “Bones” Hyland, Shooting Guard, Virginia Commonwealth University. The 6’3.5” & 169 pound guard made some noise during his two college seasons and took a big jump during his sophomore season when he became the full-time starter. With a gap in the guard rotation and the potential for Will Barton to be going elsewhere this offseason, the team needed a player that could score added into the mix.

That’s exactly what President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly is getting in Hyland. Hyland doesn’t have the size to slot in well alongside Jamal Murray in the team’s starting lineup, but he can pour in points in a hurry off of the bench. He also has a 6’9.25” wingspan that makes him a pain for opposing guards to deal with when he’s on the ball. The Nuggets’ bench has lacked a guard with Hyland’s skill set for the last few years, and they now have it.

Pros

Length

Hyland is only 6’3.5” which isn’t ideal if he’s going to play the shooting guard role, but his wingspan more than makes up for it. Denver’s main guards off of the bench last year were P.J. Dozier, Facundo Campazzo and Monte Morris. Neither Morris nor Campazzo were particularly apt defenders or possessed great length. Hyland adds competition to that group which raises the production level of everyone else.

Shooter

In Hyland’s first season, he averaged 9.0 points per game, but that average jumped to 19.5 during his sophomore season. He shot 39.9 percent from 3-point range during his two college seasons, including 43.4 percent from downtown from his freshman campaign. One skill that Hyland is bringing to the team that they don’t have yet is the ability to get to the free-throw line. Hyland was averaging 4.5 free-throw attempts per game during his second season on campus. That would have been the second-best mark of all Nuggets’ players last season.

Hands

Hyland was a menace on the defensive end last season. He averaged 1.9 steals per game last season, and that translated to 2.1 steals per 36 minutes. For reference, that 2.1 steals per 36 minutes would have been the best mark among all Nuggets’ players last season. Hyland brings three particular skills that this roster doesn’t already have, which is exactly what they should have been looking for in this draft with their lone selection.

Cons

Weight

At 169 pounds, Hyland is small. There is no two ways around it. Using last season’s player weights, he would have been the fourth-lightest player in the league. The three players lighter than him rarely saw the floor for their respective teams, and that’s simply due to the fact that it’s easier for defenders to take advantage of smaller players. Hyland likely won’t be able to put on much weight, but he’ll need to add some size to his frame to survive at the NBA level.

Passing

Per 36 minutes, Hyland averaged just 2.3 assists. Simply put, when he had the ball, he wasn’t passing it to someone else. That may have worked in college, but, at the next level, teams will know and take advantage of a player that’s not going to pass the ball. Bones can’t be that way. He doesn’t have to become a pass-first guard, and that’s not what he’ll be expected to do. However, he does have to work on at least offering up the threat of the pass to make the defense think when he gains possession.

Ball Security

As good as he is at taking away the ball on defense, Hyland was just as good at getting rid of the ball on offense. He averaged 3.1 turnovers per game last season, and that’s just simply a matter of getting overzealous and getting himself into bad situations. This is where working on his passing can really come in handy. When he’s more willing to pass, defenses have to give him more room to operate which would result in fewer turnovers

Final Grade: B-

Hyland is a fine player, and he brings skills that the Nuggets’ roster doesn’t currently have. The main reasons that this grade isn’t higher have to do with other players that were on the board that may be more pro-ready than Hyland. Denver’s window to compete is open, and they don’t have time to wait for a player to develop for a year. It’s beyond possible that Hyland will come in and be a walking bucket from Day 1 and make me look stupid in a year. However, it’s also possible that Hyland’s lack of size will hurt him early on which could make this a “wasted” pick when Denver could have looked to get a player with a lower ceiling that is ready to play right away.

BREAKING: Nuggets select Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland with 26th pick in first round

2021-07-29T20:49:55-06:00

Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Welcome to Denver, Bones Hyland!

The Denver Nuggets are selecting Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland with the 26th pick in the NBA Draft. Hyland was the A10 Player of the Year this past season.

Sources: Denver, No. 26: Nah'Shon Lee "Bones" Hyland.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 30, 2021

Not only does Hyland have the best name in the draft, but he is also a really good basketball player. Hyland played two seasons at VCU and put together a phenomenal sophomore season averaging 19.5 points per game. There is no doubt Hyland can score the basketball as he shot 37.1 percent from three on 7.8 attempts per game. From the field, Hyland shot 44.7 percent and was a scorching 86.2 percent from the free throw line.

Welcome to the Mile High City, Bones Hyland!

2021 NBA Draft: Round 1 Results

2021-07-29T17:51:29-06:00

First Round

1. Detroit: Cade Cunningham, Guard/Forward, Oklahoma State

2. Houston: Jalen Green, Guard/Wing, G League Ignite

3. Cleveland: Evan Mobley, Big, USC

4. Toronto: Scottie Barnes, Forward, Florida State

5. Orlando: Jalen Suggs, Combo Guard, Gonzaga

6. Oklahoma City: Josh Giddey, Guard/Forward, Adelaide 36ers

7. Golden State: Jonathan Kuminga, Forward, G League Ignite

8. Orlando: Franz Wagner, Forward, Michigan

9. Sacramento: Davion Mitchell, Combo Guard, Baylor

10. Memphis: Ziaire Williams, Wing, Stanford

11. Charlotte: James Bouknight, Guard/Wing, UConn

12. San Antonio: Josh Primo, Combo Guard, Alabama

13. Indiana: Chris Duarte, Wing, Oregon

14. Golden State: Moses Moody, Wing, Arkansas

15. Washington: Corey Kispert, Wing, Gonzaga

16. Houston: Alperen Şengün, Big, Beşiktaş J.K.

17. New Orleans: Trey Murphy III, Wing, Virginia

18. Oklahoma City: Tre Mann, Combo Guard, Florida

19. Charlotte: Kai Jones, Texas, Big/Forward

20. Atlanta: Jalen Johnson, Forward, Duke

21. LA Clippers: Keon Johnson, Guard/Wing, Tennessee

22. Indiana: Isaiah Jackson, Big, Kentucky

23. Houston: Usman Garuba, Forward, Real Madrid

24. Houston: Josh Christopher, Guard/Wing, Arizona State

25. New York: Quentin Grimes, Guard/Wing, Houston

26. Denver: Nah’Shon Hyland, Combo Guard, VCU

27. Brooklyn: Cam Thomas, Combo Guard, LSU

28. Philadelphia: Jaden Springer, Combo Guard, Tennessee

29. Brooklyn: Day’Ron Sharpe, Big, UNC

30. Memphis: Santi Aldama, Big/Forward, Loyola (MD)

Denver Stiffs Best Available Players

Jared Butler, Combo Guard, Baylor
Miles McBride, Combo Guard, West Virginia
Ayo Dosunmu, Combo Guard, Illinois
Sharife Cooper, Lead Guard, Auburn
Joel Ayayi, Guard/Wing, Gonzaga
JT Thor, Forward/Big, Auburn
Kessler Edwards, Forward, Pepperdine
Herb Jones, Wing/Forward, Alabama
Aaron Henry, Wing, Michigan State
Neemias Queta, Big, Utah State
Filip Petrušev, Big, KK Mega Soccerbet
Charles Bassey, Big, Western Kentucky
B.J. Boston, Guard/Wing, Kentucky
Rokas Jokubaitis, Lead Guard, BC Žalgiris
Joe Wieskamp, Wing, Iowa
David Johnson, Combo Guard, Louisville
Greg Brown III, Forward, Texas
Isaiah Livers, Forward, Michigan
Daishen Nix, Lead Guard, G League Ignite
Juhann Bégarin, Wing, Paris Basketball
Vrenz Bleijenbergh, Wing/Forward, Port of Antwerp Giants
McKinley Wright IV, Lead Guard, Colorado
Sam Hauser, Forward, Virginia
Jericho Sims, Big, Texas
Matthew Hurt, Forward, Duke
Trendon Watford, Forward, LSU
David Duke Jr., Guard/Wing, Providence
Aaron Wiggins, Wing, Maryland
EJ Onu, Big, Shawnee State

Conflicting reports about the Los Angeles Lakers trading for Russell Westbrook and Buddy Hield

2021-07-29T15:30:53-06:00

Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images

So, NBA Twitter just had a malfunction.

According to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski, Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell is opting into his player option. That decision is helping to facilitate a move to acquire Sacramento Kings shooting guard Buddy Hield.

With Harrell opt-in, Lakers are able to to move toward completing a deal to acquire Kings guard Buddy Hield for forward Kyle Kuzma and Harrell, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 29, 2021

Notice the timestamp at 3:02 PM.

12 minutes later, Shams Charania emerged with a news bomb, sharing that Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards is possibly on his way to Los Angeles to form a Big Three with LeBron James and Anthony Davis himself.

Shams later shared that the deal would include some of the players potentially in the deal Wojnarowski reported for Hield:

The Lakers and Wizards are discussing a trade that would send Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for Westbrook, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The Lakers' No. 22 pick in the Draft could be in play, too. https://t.co/RQOnlyVnBS
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 29, 2021

It’s very possible that the Lakers were dealing with both teams in a short amount of time and their plans are changing dynamically; however, it’s very unique to hear two separate reports in trades for two different players in such a short amount of time. Both would have drastic ripple effects for the Los Angeles Lakers, and by extension, the rest of the league.

While writing this in live time, Woj has now adjusted to reporting the Russell Westbrook deal himself.

The Lakers are near a deal to acquire Washington's Russell Westbrook for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and a 2021 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 29, 2021

This has very interesting ramifications for the Denver Nuggets and the rest of the Western Conference, as well as ripple effects on Bradley Beal and his future with the Wizards. Could we see Beal traded on draft night as well? It’s possible.

Rumor: Josh Christopher drawing interest from the Nuggets late in the first round

2021-07-29T13:50:11-06:00

Patrick Breen via Imagn Content Services, LLC

The Denver Post’s Mike Singer and NBA insider Chad Ford both link the Nuggets to interest in Arizona State’s high-flying guard

The Denver Nuggets are likely to have several guards available to them in tonight’s NBA draft, as it is a strength of this draft and Denver has a need with Jamal Murray on the shelf recovering from surgery and Will Barton having opted out of the last year of his contract. Chad Ford, an independent long-time NBA reporter, throws Josh Christopher’s name back into the mix for Denver:

Based on strong workouts and a strong draft Combine, Arizona State’s Josh Christopher may have played himself back into the first round — the Clippers and Nuggets both have interest.
— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) July 29, 2021

The Denver Post’s Mike Singer, an always-reliable source for Nuggets information, lent more credence to this rumor:

I’ve heard Nuggets are fans of Christopher, too, but I’d be surprised if they took him ahead of pack of other guards Mann/McBride/Grimes/Hyland/Springer. https://t.co/rB05g6Bw35
— Mike Singer (@msinger) July 29, 2021

I happen to agree with both of those statements. Josh Christopher does look good in workouts but lost the tail-end of his year due to a leg injury (a la Malik Beasley). Unlike Beasley, Christopher was able to get those workouts in and stabilize his draft stock in a deep guard offering, but there are surer things that Denver would hope could get to them. Christopher feels more like a fallback than a prime target, but there are worse things than landing a talented teenage prospect whose stock is in the late-20s only because he took a while to adjust to college and because his injury didn’t let him continue to show the growth he was flashing.

Our own Brandon Ewing wrote Christopher’s draft profile here, but his conclusion frames this nicely:

Christopher has a ton of talent but is not ready for real minutes with the Nuggets at this point, and would likely only see spot minutes this season. That still might be the best path for Denver depending on who is available for them however, and Tim Connelly likes his upside. Drafting as low as Denver is requires some finesse, and occasionally taking shots on players who could grow into great pros but are not there yet. In that aspect, Christopher fits the bill.

Keep an eye on Denver Stiffs for all your draft day rumors and news!