The staff at Bleacher Report believes the OKC Thunder will be able to get their wish this season by swapping out George Hill for a first-round pick.
Now, three games into the 2020-21 season, the OKC Thunder have officially set sail on their route to a rebuild.
With sights set on the future, Sam Presti and co. have managed to get their hands on a potential total of 18 first-round picks over the next seven years thanks to a bevy of offseason wheeling and dealing.
Along with these picks, the Thunder have also gone about adding players in salary-dump moves, such as Trevor Ariza, Al Horford, and George Hill.
The idea with bringing on these talents — at least, if you ask a fan — is that, at some point this season, OKC will look to flip one or more of them for more desirable assets or, more specifically, draft capital.
Out of all of these flippable veterans, the one that seems to have the most value attached to them at the moment is Hill who, according to Shams Charania, is a ‘hot commodity’ within the rumor mill.
With this, the hope is that Presti could trade the point guard to a contender looking to fill a void at the position and, in turn, bring back future picks. In a recently released article, Bleacher Report makes the prediction that the OKC Thunder will be able to nab a first-round selection for the 34-year-old:
"In his first game in OKC, Hill started alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, putting up 21 points (on 8-of-9 shooting), four rebounds, three assists and a steal in only 24 minutes. The NBA’s leading three-point shooter last year (46.0 percent), Hill is already 4-of-8 from deep to begin the season.Although he’s 34, contenders should be lining up for his services. Hill can still start or play a key role off the bench and is on a team-friendly contract. He’ll make $9.6 million this season, and his $10 million salary next year is only guaranteed for $1.3 million.Expect a strong start to the season for Hill before the Thunder trade him for yet another first-round pick."
At this stage in his career, it is best for both the franchise and George Hill to part ways at some point this season, as the two parties are at two completely different mindsets and stages.
Should this prediction wind up coming true, OKC Thunder fans would likely be overjoyed.