Final 2017 Cleveland Browns Report Card: Cornerbacks
January 29, 2018The circuitous path to happiness: While We’re Waiting
January 29, 2018Whether it’s the fact that they no longer have Kyrie Irving or something else, this January’s downfall was different than the previous three January lulls for the Cleveland Cavaliers. So, perhaps with more urgency than previous seasons, the Cavs are looking to improve their squad heading into the trade deadline. While plenty of names have reportedly been on the team’s radar, Sacramento Kings point guard George Hill has made the most murmurs over the past week or two.
It all started when ESPN’s Brian Windhorst mentioned that a deal that would bring Hill to Cleveland was “on the one-yard line” while talking to Zach Lowe on the Lowe Post last week. On the podcast, Windhorst seemed to think that Cleveland would send Iman Shumpert and Channing Frye to Sacramento for Hill, with a second deal immediately following that would bring the Cavs a new backup big man, due to Frye currently being the team’s lone backup big man behind Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson.1 It wouldn’t be a trade that would make a big splash across the NBA, but it would have been one that would improve the Cavs.
So far this season, Hill is averaging just 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 27 minutes per game, all of which are his lowest in at least five years. While playing in 38 games (36 starts) this season, the 31-year-old is shooting 46 percent from the floor and a career-high 45 percent from beyond the arc.
Comparatively speaking, Hill could be an upgraded version of Jose Calderon for the Cavs. Calderon did well with the Cavs when he started earlier in the season because, although he isn’t much of a playmaker, the point guard knocked down shots when he was open and rarely made mistakes. Hill would do that and then some.
Let’s take a look at his shot chart so far in 2017-18:
Once considered to be a defense-first point guard, Hill has just a 113.4 defensive rating so far this season. Obviously, if the Cavs want to upgrade, it seems as though they should acquire a player that is good defensively, along with bringing plenty of offense. Although the point guard has struggled mightily on defense so far this season, plenty of the struggles can be blamed on the fact that the Kings are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA, almost as bad as the wine and gold.
Although Windhorst seemed to think that the deal was very, very close last week, so close that even the players were somewhat notified that they would be changing teams, things seemed to have taken a turn, one that makes it seem as though Hill will not be a Cav.
After signing a three-year, $57 million deal with Sacramento this past offseason, Hill is owed plenty of money before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2020. With $20 million on the table this season, $19 million next season, and $18 million in 2019-20, the Cavs would take on plenty of salary if they were to acquire the point guard. It’s part of the reason why, according to Windhorst on ESPN Radio on Sunday, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert seems to have nixed the Hill-to-Cavs deal after the veteran would not agree that, if LeBron James were to leave the wine and gold this summer, Hill would agree to a buyout. He didn’t agree, which is why Hill will no longer be a Cavalier, at least for now.
With this season potentially being James’ last with the wine and gold, Gilbert seems to be protecting his future, while putting anything that would improve the team’s success for only this season on the backburner. While it has been known that Cleveland would likely not trade the Brooklyn first-round pick that the acquired for Kyrie Irving, this Hill trade has fallen apart because of Gilbert as well.
What makes all of this strange is the fact that, according to NBA TV’s Eric Pincus, just $1 million of the $18 million owed to Hill in 2019-20 is guaranteed, which would essentially make him an expiring contract next season. So, even if No. 23 moved on from the Cavs, Cleveland could trade Hill next season, rather than asking him for a buyout. This seems to be yet another way for Gilbert to want to have an upper-hand over James, but it may just be another reason for the King to leave this summer.
When James took his talents to South Beach, the Cavs were left with little in return for the best basketball player in the world leaving. With James having a no-trade clause, it seems as though Gilbert is once again trying to stand his ground over his biggest star, since No. 23 would not commit to Gilbert and the Cavs following this season. Then again, it may just be another move that will backfire on Gilbert—again.
- Sorry, I’m not counting Ante Zizic as a legitimate backup big right now. There’s a reason why he goes back and forth from Cleveland to the Canton Charge just to get some playing time. [↩]
11 Comments
Wait when did Gilbert become GM?
At the risk of Scott yelling at me again, stuff like this gives me LeBron fatigue. It’s like when your kid says “I’m hungry” but won’t eat anything you offer them.
People want to put this on Gilbert, but it’s impossible to do business when your most influential and important employee refuses to participate in the process.
You mean LeBron has flaws? Who knew??
…except of course for when he wants to participate in the process. He likes the “get better” part, but not the “I’ll do one of the things that will help the Cavs get better” part.
He put quite a bit of time and effort creating his super team in Miami.
Just a fraction of that effort would go a long way here…
Man – people love to spout NBA rumors like they’re fact. Do we actually KNOW that Gilbert nixed this trade? Nope. I like the idea of Hill, but if they do this deal it squanders any other significant deals because of the salary they would need to send out. Even if they then wanted to trade the Brooklyn Pick, it wouldn’t be easy scrounge up enough matching salary to deal for difference maker. They are smart to hold tight for now, to see who becomes available…
Avery Bradley on a small expiring deal? YES. They could probably get him for Frye & a pick while still maintaining flexibility for more upgrades.
Who’s going to become available next?…
I would love to get Bradley as long as his health will get back to 100% soon. I don’t want to trade Frye, as I think he has value against specific teams at a stretch 5 and a great locker room guy. I would much rather trade Shumpert and a pick (not the Nets) or get rid of Thomas. However, I read that Detroit wants someone tied up for a few years, which leaves him out. I think Bradley’s D could be just what we need.
Shoot your shot, Cavs. If LeBron leaves, you are flat out screwed for several years as you go through a full-on rebuild. Being locked into George Hill’s contract for one additional season makes zero difference in that scenario (has a $1M cap hit in 2019 if the Cavs cut him for the 2019-2020 season).
This doesn’t make any sense. LBJ makes $35 million. If he opts out, the Cavs are out of the tax. Hill would essentially be an expiring contract. Combine him with JR’s essentially expiring deal, and you get a good player from another team looking to cut salary.