Former Nuggets First-Round Pick Drawing Interest From West Rival in Free Agency

By making these moves, the Nuggets are expected by many around the NBA to be the biggest threat to the Oklahoma City Thunder this season.

While the Nuggets have been busy upgrading their roster this summer, one of their former first-round picks has entered the news recently as he is reportedly being targeted by one of Denver’s rivals in the Western Conference.

Timberwolves targeting Bones Hyland in free agency

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer , Bones Hyland is drawing interest in free agency from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“Minnesota has two open spots and the Timberwolves, sources say, would like to have Bones Hyland back in the fold,” Fisher wrote. 

Of course, Hyland was the 26th overall pick in the 2021 draft by the Nuggets and he showed flashes of being a key player for Denver during his rookie season.

In his rookie campaign, Hyland averaged 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 40.3% from the field and 37.1% from three.

Despite this, the Nuggets traded the young guard to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2023 and his play has dipped ever since.

Hyland played three seasons for the Clippers before they sent him to the Atlanta Hawks last season where he was then waived.

Minnesota ended up signing the 24-year-old guard after he was cut by Atlanta, though he appeared in only four games for the Timberwolves last season.

Despite his lack of playing time in Minnesota, it appears as though they are looking to bring him back for this season, though his role would likely once again be a small one due to their backcourt depth.

While that may be the case, Hyland has not generated a ton of buzz in free agency this offseason as he tries to find a new home where he could continue to develop and potentially return to being the player that he was earlier in his career.