This week, the Atlanta Hawks made a series of trades that dramatically changed the roster.
Out went De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Cody Zeller. In came Terance Mann, Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Bones Hyland, the draft rights to Alpha Kaba, and a bundle of second-round picks. Following the deadline, the Hawks then waived not only Hyland but David Roddy, per team announcements. Thus, Atlanta is left with Mann, LeVert, Niang, their added draft capital, and the hope that they continue to improve internally or make a big splash this summer.
That doesn’t leave them in the best position for the remainder of the season. Mann is a fine defender and has made 37.1 percent of his three-pointers since being drafted 48th overall in 2019. As Atlanta was lacking an archetypal 3-and-D wing, there was a need for him on the roster. However, Hunter and Bogdanovic are scoring 29.0 points per game combined this season.
Mann is putting up just 6.0 points per game. Niang, a stretch-four, is averaging 8.7 points per game. LeVert, a herky-jerk scorer with solid defense, adds another 10.2 points per game. That’s not very imposing individually or collectively.
This makes their decision to waive Hyland worth examining.
Are Hawks Right To Waive Bones Hyland?
There may not have been anyone who was projecting Hyland to be the next face of the league coming out of college. However, with his scoring instincts and ball-handling ability, he appeared to be a rotation-caliber player. As a freshman at VCU, he averaged 9.0 points per game and made 43.4 percent of his three. In his second and final season with the Rams, the 6-foot-2 combo guard averaged 19.5 points (and 1.9 steals) per game on .447-.371-.862 shooting splits.
So, when he averaged 10.1 points per game (36.6 percent shooting from three) with the Denver Nuggets during his rookie season, it was expected. The surprise was that he fell out of favor so quickly and thoroughly.
Slight of frame and lacking discipline, his defense wasn’t up to scratch. Facilitating wasn’t second nature to him. On a young and inexperienced squad, there might not have been as much of a rush for his game to mature. The Nuggets were fresh off a Western Conference semifinals appearance and trying to win a championship. Yet, it was the lack of relationship and communication between he and the coaching staff that ended their relationship. Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth also cited Hyland’s defense and me-first attitude as causes for the trade.
With that being said, in his time with the Clippers, Hyland played and produced less than he did in Denver. However, he’s been better the more minutes that he’s received. In fact, when playing 20+ minutes this season, he’s averaging 17.7 points per game on .485-.500-.800 shooting splits. He’s also been improving as a defender and playmaker, demonstrating more effort and better decision-making than he did at the start of his career.
Couldn’t the Hawks have used a player like him?
Bones To Brooklyn?
Ultimately, Hyland is a player who might have helped provide a boost offensively. Honestly, had Keaton Wallace and Vit Krejci not emerged as viable backups for Trae Young, perhaps he’d still be in Atlanta.
Neither Wallace nor Krejci as adept as Hyland when it comes to putting the ball in the basket. Nevertheless, they’re plus-defenders who can impact the game as scorers and facilitators. There’s also the possibility that the Hawks give Kobe Bufkin, who has repeatedly flashed his potential, at least one more chance. He’s only played 27 games since being drafted in 2023 but he’s under contract through 2026-27, with team options on the final two years.
In other words, there’s really already a lot of competition for the minutes behind Young. Considering the way he’s felt about warming the bench at both stops, he might not be the best fit personality-wise. Furthermore, the Hawks are emphasizing defense and ball-movement. As a result, he’s not really the best fit for their play style either.
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