Matchmaking: Brooklyn Nets and Free Agent Guards
George Hill
George Hill and the player previously mentioned, Milos Teodosic, have a lot in common. Both are 30 years of age and possibly leaving their current teams. After Hill was traded from a Pacers team and was replaced by Jeff Teague, it was clear Indiana had other plans.
Hill has shown great qualities as a player and leader throughout the more recent years of his career. He has also shown when given the chance to be a leader and run the show, he can thrive and elevate a team. Hill was a big key to the success and stick-to-itiveness of the Pacers team that was forced to operate without All-Star Paul George, the team that nearly knocked the Nets out of the 2015 playoffs.
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In that season, Hill averaged career-highs in points, rebounds and assists up to that point in his career. He tallied 16.1 points, 5.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game, as well as shot an impressive 47 percent from the field.
Similarly this season, Hill is averaging 16.9 points, 4.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game on once again, 47 percent shooting.
The only difference is now, Hill is playing alongside an All-Star in Gordon Hayward for a complete season, as well as some other great young players and veterans. Not to mention, the Jazz just recently clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2012, only the second time since trading former point guard Deron Williams to the then-New Jersey Nets.
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With age potentially being a factor in Hill’s decision, it’ll be interesting to see what he does and where he will land come next season. Will he go to a team like the Nets that is looking to build a championship culture and choose to spend his later years attempting to build something special, or will he stay with a team like the Jazz who is in a pretty good position going forward with talent like Rudy Gobert and Hayward?
One thing is for sure, the Nets will be interested in Hill. Rightfully so too — Hill has proven he can provide efficient scoring and solid passing to a team, something the Nets are looking for from their starters.
If the Nets can get Hill onboard and lock him up to a contract worth around $10-15 million per season, it may just be a match.
Of course, similarly to Teodosic, they would need to make a game-plan that would work for both Lin and Hill. If Kenny Atkinson can do that, Hill may be wearing a black-and-white uniform next season.