The Denver Nuggets enter the offseason with a glaring hole at backup point guard and very limited financial flexibility. While big-name additions appear out of reach, one intriguing low-risk, high-reward option sits right in front of them: bringing back their former first-round draft pick, Bones Hyland.
Hyland, selected in the first round in 2021, showed genuine promise during his rookie season in Denver. However, his tenure with the Nuggets ended abruptly as he reportedly sought a larger role and struggled to fully embrace the team concept. Shockingly traded during his sophomore year, he has since bounced around the fringes of the NBA, searching for consistent minutes and stability.
This past season, however, Hyland finally found a productive home with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Coming off the bench, he delivered 8.5 points and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 46% from the field and 39% from three-point range across 16 minutes per night. He appeared in 71 games, proving himself as a reliable microwave scorer capable of providing instant offense.
For the Nuggets, the fit may not be perfect, but it addresses a critical need. Denver lacked a true backup to Jamal Murray last season, and the toll showed during the playoffs. Hyland, now a free agent and still just 25 years old, could return on a minimum deal — a ridiculously low price for a player with his pedigree and potential.
A Second Chance at Home
Re-signing Hyland would represent a calculated “buy low” opportunity on a former draft favorite. While his time in Denver ended on a sour note, the organization clearly saw talent in him when they drafted him. Now, after gaining experience and maturity elsewhere, a homecoming could unlock the best version of his game.
As a super sixth man, Hyland offers steady production and the ability to handle the ball, create shots, and stretch the floor with his shooting. He won’t transform the Nuggets into contenders on his own, but he provides something they desperately lacked: depth and a legitimate threat off the bench. In the regular season, he can eat meaningful minutes and reduce the burden on Murray. In the playoffs, his hot-streak potential gives Denver a chance to have a difference-maker emerge in any given game.
The point guard market this offseason is particularly bleak, especially for a team with constrained spending power. Rather than chasing aging veterans with limited upside, pursuing Hyland makes strategic sense. He has already shown he can still play at an NBA level — including multiple 20+ point performances down the stretch of the 2026 season — and carries genuine breakout potential at his age.
A Smart, Low-Cost Swing
At this stage, the Nuggets don’t need a savior. They need functional, affordable pieces that can stabilize the rotation. Hyland fits that description perfectly. He represents a vast improvement over their current backup point guard situation and comes with the added narrative of a player returning to the place where his NBA journey began.
While there are no guarantees, the downside is minimal on a minimum contract. The upside, however, is meaningful: a young, skilled guard who knows the system, can score in bunches, and still has room to grow into a true sixth-man spark plug.
For a Nuggets team looking to stay competitive without breaking the bank, bringing Bones Hyland back to Denver could be one of the smartest, quietest moves they make this offseason — and one that just might change the outlook of their bench for the better.