OKC Thunder: 2 George Hill trades to Magic that offer win-win scenarios
The OKC Thunder – Magic, perfect timeline trade
The value for Orlando remains the same in this trade but the value for the OKC Thunder potentially is better than the first trade option.
In this scenario, the Thunder sends George Hill to the Magic and bring back a youngster who is more within the same timeline of the young team Sam Presti is building via Mo Bamba.
The 22-year old was drafted by Orlando in the sixth spot in 2018 and while the presumed ceiling is high he hasn’t experienced the rapid rise most expected he would in the pros.
| Season | G | MP | FGA | FG% | 3PA | 3P% | 2PA | 2P% | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 47 | 16.3 | 5.2 | .481 | 1.5 | .300 | 3.7 | .555 | 1.3 | .587 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 5.0 | 1.4 | 6.2 |
| 2019-20 | 62 | 14.2 | 4.6 | .462 | 1.7 | .346 | 2.9 | .531 | 0.7 | .674 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 5.4 |
| 2020-21 | 2 | 4.0 | 1.0 | .000 | 0.5 | .000 | 0.5 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |
| Career | 111 | 14.9 | 4.8 | .469 | 1.6 | .326 | 3.2 | .541 | 1.0 | .624 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 4.8 | 1.4 | 5.6 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/8/2021.
Last season he caught COVID-19 and has also suffered from the lingering effects. The OKC Thunder would need to evaluate his health for this to be an option.
The thinking was he would develop into a player with the capacity to play inside or out and use his length and reach to become a rim protector, rebounder, and solid defender.
While the Thunder are moving toward positionless ball they still need to have a player with size. Consider the big men in the league who’ll require someone of similar size to defend them.
That would include Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Kristaps Porzingis, and Nikola Jokic. While the Thunder are rebuilding it won’t be essential to have that big who can defend those stars but having a player developing in your system and meshing with the core with that capability would be a bonus.
Khem Birch is added to make the dollars work because the Magic are in the luxury and have to send out an equal amount or more of salary.
| Season | Age | G | MP | FGA | FG% | 2PA | 2P% | eFG% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 25 | 42 | 13.8 | 3.0 | .540 | 3.0 | .540 | .540 | 1.0 | 1.5 | .689 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 4.2 |
| 2018-19 | 26 | 50 | 12.9 | 3.0 | .603 | 3.0 | .607 | .603 | 1.2 | 1.7 | .699 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 4.8 |
| 2019-20 | 27 | 48 | 19.2 | 3.0 | .510 | 3.0 | .514 | .510 | 1.4 | 2.1 | .653 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 4.6 | 0.5 | 4.4 |
| 2020-21 | 28 | 8 | 19.0 | 5.3 | .524 | 5.3 | .524 | .524 | 1.5 | 1.6 | .923 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 5.9 | 0.5 | 7.0 |
| Career | 148 | 15.5 | 3.1 | .550 | 3.1 | .552 | .550 | 1.2 | 1.7 | .690 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 4.6 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/8/2021.
Birch may not be the prize of this trade but he’s an interesting addition for a couple of reasons. First, there is familiarity because he’s Canadian and has spent time on National teams growing up with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort.
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Although he’s an undersized big let’s just say he’s very much cut from the same cloth as Lu and makes life miserable for all the bigs he defends. He’s on an economical $3 million deal that ends this year.
The Canadian credited Raptors Nick Nurse (also the Canadian Men’s coach) for helping him grow offensively and through the early season he’s almost doubled his point production.
The funny part is I have a feeling Steve Clifford might stop the trade more so over Birch than Mo because he’s a coach favorite based on that defensive intensity.
Closing Thoughts:
So there you have it. Two deals that the OKC Thunder could do with the Orlando Magic for George Hill. The trades offer different options for Sam Presti depending on what he feels the market for Hill is.
The reality is with another year on Hill’s contract Presti doesn’t have to move him this season. That said, the Magic and Thunder have a long history of being trade partners so if Orlando is keen to make the postseason this deal is great for both teams.
The only other caveat I’d add is if I’m Presti I push for a draft pick from a year with a strong and deep projected class. The Magic own all their picks and also own the Pacers 2022 as well as the Bucks 2026 second-round picks.
So if you’re Sam Presti would you make either trade? Let us know in the comments section.
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