OKC Thunder: 3 players that could benefit most from Chris Paul’s departure
Player who could benefit from Chris Paul departure No. 2) George Hill
This next player is somewhat of an obvious choice given his tenure and experience running the point for elite teams. During his dozen years in the association, George Hill has served as a valuable contributor on elite teams such as the Spurs, Pacers, Jazz, and Bucks.
The veteran point guard has also spent time on rebuilding rosters like the Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers.
It feels like Hill got grouped with Eric Bledsoe as the problem in Milwaukee and the resulting effect is both were traded. Hill was somewhat of a victim of circumstance since the Bucks were expecting to also bring in Bogdan Bogdanovic in addition to Jrue Holiday. That may be why Milwaukee was willing to send out Hill who shot a blistering 46.0 percent on 3.0 attempts from deep last season.
Albeit his playoff 3-point efficiency was less spectacular (35.7 percent), however, his overall effect was similar to his regular-season tallies:
Regular season: 9.4 points, 3.0 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.4 made 3-pointers on 3.0 attempts
Postseason: 9.5 points, 3.1 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 1.0 made 3-pointers on 2.8 attempts in
Notably, Hill’s minutes increased to 26.8 per game in the postseason from an average of 21.5 minutes in the regular season.
This exercise may be a moot point as many believe Hill will be the main contract Sam Presti is trying to ship out prior to season start. And if not he’ll be a hot commodity at the trade deadline as championship contenders search to bolster their backcourt.
While Hill is 34-years old he’s on the backend of his career but his contract is economical. To wit this season he’ll earn $9.59 million and next year he’s contracted to make $10.04 million. For clubs anxious to be involved in the free-agent sweepstakes of 2021 his contract won’t hurt that desire.
The problem is George Hill hasn’t always embraced his tenure with rebuilding teams. Instead of increasing his output in these situations, his statistics regressed in virtually every category. His usage rate, as well as his offensive and defensive ratings, were worse on the Kings and Cavs than the virtually every other team he played with.
While part of that is understandable given the rebuilding nature of those clubs it also screams of a player not investing in the circumstance or bringing energy. It’s odd a player known for his high character and leadership abilities appeared to lose interest in clubs not vying for the postseason.
That said, Hill excels in situations with strong systems, culture, and identity in place. Even with the OKC Thunder going through such a major roster upheaval the culture remains intact and it’s likely Daigneault will have a very specific system structure in place.
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Therefore, Hill should look to emulate the example Chris Paul set last season. CP3 refused to believe the Thunder weren’t a playoff team nor did he pout about being traded from the title-contending Rockets. Instead, he embraced his role and systematically reminded the entire league of his value.
Hill has an excellent opportunity to show he still has defensive chops and the ability to run an offense or work in tandem with Gilgeous-Alexander. A strong showing by Hill could reestablish his leadership qualities and if he’s able to carry over his 3-point efficiency he’ll be a hot commodity at the trade deadline.
How the veteran approaches training came and this season will be telling. In the past two campaigns he was a starter but his time in Sacramento and Cleveland he served as the backup.
This could end up being a win-win scenario for both Hill and the Thunder as he’ll increase his value by performing and fitting in. We’ll also get a better understanding of what Presti’s plans are. If Hill isn’t starting or the primary player off the bench it will suggest the team isn’t as committed to trading him.
What we do know is Sam Presti is notorious for being able to gain the trust of stars and veterans, so it would be surprising if Hill doesn’t invest in making the best of this situation and having a strong first half. With that in mind, expect Hill to replace a good portion of Paul’s production and leadership duties.