3 ways in which Bones Hyland can be important to the Denver Nuggets in the 2021-22 NBA season

Throughout the offseason, it looked as if the Denver Nuggets had a strong idea of the direction they wanted with their roster. After an impressive 2020-21 season, despite the loss of Jamal Murray, this Nuggets team looks positioned to be a contender in the Western Conference for years to come. That became even clearer when the Nuggets decided to give contract extensions to Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. this summer. Now, the Nuggets will patiently wait for Jamal Murray to return from his injury.

It's never easy when a team has to wait for one of their best players to return from a season-ending injury. After suffering a torn ACL in April last year, Murray will remain sidelined for the majority of the 2021-22 season as well. Still, the Nuggets look to have plenty of firepower to battle on a nightly basis. Nikola Jokic was the MVP last year and will be back to try and carry the load for the team. But there's also an intriguing addition to this Nuggets roster that could surprise some.

Can Bones Hyland help the Nuggets as a Rookie?

Bones Hyland could be a huge presence off the Denver Nuggets bench

During the 2021 NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets selected Nah'Shon "Bones" Hyland with the 26th pick. Usually teams wouldn't expect a pick towards the end of the first round to have a notable impact as a rookie, but Hyland is an interesting situation for this Nuggets team. One of the most prolific scoring guards in college basketball last year, could Bones Hyland give the Nuggets another dangerous weapon offensively? Let's take a look at how Bones Hyland can help the Denver Nuggets this year.

#3 Mentality

Bones Hyland should have plenty of energy to bring to the table for the Nuggets

There's a reason Bones Hyland was one of the "risers" throughout the 2021 pre-draft process. He was a popular prospect who was generating a lot of buzz throughout scouts and NBA teams. While Hyland is known for his ability to put the ball in the hoop, he's also a fearless competitor. For a team that is going to need some energy, Hyland could be just what the doctor ordered. Nuggets head coach Mike Malone recently praised Hyland for his approach during training camp.

“He’s so eager to learn, wants to get better, and you just love being around him because that energy he brings every day, one, it’s genuine, and two, it’s contagious,” Malone said.

There's been a developing trust building early on between Malone and his new rookie. Hyland even recently added that he reached out to his head coach to see if he could sit down and watch film with the 21-year-old guard. Safe to say that it looks as if the Denver Nuggets might have something special developing with their new rookie.

#2 Versatility

Bones Hyland should give the Nuggets some intriguing versatility.

Throughout college basketball last year, Bones Hyland was one of the most prolific scoring guards in the country. Playing for VCU, Hyland went on to average 19.5 points per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Bones can do a bit of everything on the offensive side of the ball. What makes him such an intriguing asset for this Nuggets roster is his versatility. Hyland can make plays with the ball in his hands or he can hurt opposing defenses with his outside shooting ability. It will give this Denver Nuggets team an intriguing weapon that they can move around in various lineups. Not only does Hyland have the offensive game to earn some minutes as a rookie, but he also has some untapped potential as a defensive weapon. Hyland is a bit small at 6'3" but he makes up for it with a 6'9" wingspan.

#1 Scoring off the Bench

Bones Hyland should be a dangerous weapon off the bench for the Nuggets.

With the Denver Nuggets missing a serious offensive punch on Jamal Murray, they clearly had a goal in the 2021 NBA Draft to find some offensive firepower. Not only did the Nuggets accomplish that goal, they also drafted one of the most dangerous "microwave" scorers in the entire draft. We've even seen a glimpse of Hyland's potential in the preseason, as he recently posted a 18-point third quarter in a game against the Timberwolves.

Time will tell if the Nuggets will have full faith in their new rookie to be a serious part of the rotation. With a number of offensive weapons on the roster as is, Bones could give the Nuggets even more ammunition to give opposing teams headaches. If Hyland can adjust to the speed of the NBA game, he could be a serious boost off the bench for this Nuggets team. There's no denying that he has the scoring ability to help Denver in a big way. Now let's all see if the rest of his game can continue to come together.