With the NBA trade deadline just days away, teams are likely making calls left and right in hopes of improving their rosters.
The Thunder were thought to be more sellers than buyers, but with some unexpected players being offered on the market, there might just be some opportunities for general manager Sam Presti and co. aren’t able to pass up.
Nah’Shon ‘Bones’ Hyland wasn’t thought to be on the block mere weeks ago, but more and more reports have surfaced that the second-year guard is likely to be dealt before the deadline.
Oklahoma City likely isn’t looking to add win-now talent at the moment, but at 22-years-old, Hyland would still be thought of as a legitimate rebuilding asset.
With second-year guard Tre Mann yet to show his ceiling in the backup backcourt, Bones could get a legitimate look from Oklahoma City for his sixth-man role.
Hyland is averaging 12.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game this season while shooting 40 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc. He certainly fits OKC’s mold of being able to do everything offensively, and while he’s by no means a good defender, Mann earns a solid amount of minutes himself without that skill.
Here’s what a mock trade between Oklahoma City and Denver could look like:
Oklahoma City gets: Nah’Shon Hyland
Denver gets: 2024 unprotected Clippers first round selection
Denver likely isn’t in search of any picks to use, but an unprotected 2024 Clippers pick with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard’s health could fetch some legitimate veteran help.
OKC will need to consolidate picks into players at some point and might just want Hyland enough to send over a valuable one. If not, there are several other deals to be done with the team’s unprecedented amount of first round picks.
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