LA Clippers Could Trade Former First Round Pick

The Clippers may need to trade one of their intriguing young players

Mar 15, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; LA Clippers bench watches the final minute from the bench against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Smoothie King Center. / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The LA Clippers currently have a very guard-heavy roster. While the team is expected to move Russell Westbrook, they are also expected to bring in Kris Dunn, which would keep the roster at its current positional balance.

As currently constructed, the Clippers would seemingly have no minutes available for young guard Bones Hyland. Not in Ty Lue's rotation last season, Hyland was open to being dealt at the trade deadline, but was not moved. Following the deadline, both Hyland and P.J. Tucker were sent home by the Clippers to regroup during the All-Star break.

"The trade didn't happen, they're gonna be here, so we're just giving them a little time off to get their minds right and come back in Oklahoma City and be ready to go," Lue told reporters in San Francisco.

Asked Ty Lue if the Clippers having a set rotation right now makes the Bones Hyland and P.J. Tucker situations more difficult.

Lue: “Yeah, we have a set rotation… We’ve finally got it figured out… It’s been good for us. It’s not something we want to change right now.” pic.twitter.com/HEfl1K6x58

— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) February 14, 2024

As previously mentioned, the roster has not changed in a way that would open up minutes for Hyland, which means he could be traded this summer. Speaking with reporters in Las Vegas on Monday, Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank was asked about Hyland, and said the Clippers will look for opportunities for him elsewhere if there is no pathway to minutes this season.

Lawrence Frank says the Clippers will look for opportunities elsewhere for Bones Hyland if they determine he doesn’t have a pathway to minutes next season.

Frank: “If he’s with us, we expect him to compete for playing time. If we don’t think there’s an opportunity for him, then… pic.twitter.com/G7RAC6Er46

— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) July 15, 2024

Unless the roster changes significantly between now and the start of next season, it seems likely that Hyland will be dealt elsewhere. As Frank mentioned, the young guard is in a contract year, which is why another season of him riding the bench would not be in anyone's best interest.

Hyland was selected 26th overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2021 NBA Draft, and was traded to the Clippers in 2023.

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