The OKC Thunder have been on a trading spree seemingly all offseason and now, with the likes of George Hill, this trend could continue into the regular season.
With one eye on developing their current building block Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the other on the NBA Draft/ the future, the OKC Thunder are coming into the 2020-21 season with one all-encompassing mindset: let the youth-movement begin.
Though the team does have some vets in tow, Oklahoma City comes in as one of the youngest rosters in the league and, if the rumors of their desire to flip guys like Al Horford, Trevor Ariza, and George Hill — both players acquired via trade this offseason — for future assets is true, they could wind up getting even younger as the year moves forward.
Of all the players linked to the trading block for OKC, one would likely assume Hill would warrant the most interest from opposing teams around the league, particularly contenders. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, your assumptions would be absolutely correct, as the reporter recently stated that the veteran floor general has been drawing considerable interest from teams “around the league.”
In 2019-20, the 34-year-old veteran averaged 9.4 points, 3.1 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game on a career-high 52 percent shooting from the field and 46 percent shooting from three-point range for the Milwaukee Bucks and logged 21.5 minutes a night.
We here at Thunderous Intentions know how valuable a player like Hill can be for a team. That said, on a rebuilding franchise like the OKC Thunder, it would appear as though his attributes would be somewhat wasted, as he is now entering his 13th NBA season and, like most players at this stage in their career, are longing to attain that highly coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Flipping Hill should not be a problem this season, as we believe there to be many specific franchises that should fit the bill in regard to what the veteran is looking for, and, in turn, what the franchises are looking for in a veteran.
That said, the Thunder should not simply jump at the first offer that’s bestowed to them. They should bide their time and wait for a team to cough up a future draft asset to add to their already illustrious treasure trove.