Re-drafting the 2021 NBA Draft
15. player. 142. . PG. Washington Wizards. Bones Hyland
Re-drafting the 2021 NBA Draft — 15. Bones Hyland, Wizards
The Wizards are presently starting Raul Neto at point guard, so it’s safe to say the backcourt needs some work. Bradley Beal’s future is the big question hanging over the summer for Washington, but even if he returns, he’s going to need a running mate. I’m not sure Bones Hyland is the best possible fit, but they sure as hell would score the basketball.
Hyland played big minutes off the bench for a banged-up playoffs team in Denver. His 3-point shooting was electric in college and it immediately translated to the NBA. He’s lightning in a bottle — dynamic 3-point range combined with one of the quickest first steps in basketball. He’s still mostly relegated to microwave scoring at this point, but his offensive contributions contributed significantly to more than one Denver victory this season.
For Washington, the hope would be that Hyland’s blend of off-ball shooting and on-ball, downhill scoring is eventually complemented by a more well-rounded skill set. He needs to get better at manipulating the defense and leveraging the threat he poses to set up teammates. He’s also a pretty weak defender right now, and would benefit from some more muscle if it doesn’t impact his speed or his shot.