Despite being ranked as the worst lineup in the NBA, the OKC Thunder as a whole are one of the biggest surprises through the first 22 games of action in 2020-21.
Guided by the likes of third-year guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the team has managed to stay competitive in virtually every outing this season and, despite being pegged as one of the most likely contenders to finish off with the worst record in the league, are 10-12 and sit just two wins behind the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors in the standings.
However, despite this success, many in the know are still under the belief that, at some point this season, the Thunder will be sellers, as has been their trend over the past two years now.
No, the likes of SGA, Luguentz Dort, and Darius Bazley are likely not on the table, but there are a few other talents in tow that are seen as expendable, and one of the most buzzed-about players in this category is veteran guard, George Hill.
OKC Thunder guard George Hill has caught the intrigue of many different teams
Seemingly since his arrival this offseason via the Steven Adams trade to New Orleans, the rumor mill hasn’t stopped spinning in regard to potential landing spots for the 34-year-old.
An experienced floor general with defensive versatility and a lights-out shooting stroke, we at TI believe that, with every day that he plays, Hill’s stock is steadily on the rise.
While we have discussed a few specific landing spots in the past for the point guard, recently Bleacher Report jumped into the mix and listed two new potentially viable suitors for Geroge Hill — the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns.
Citing the Mavs as the ideal destination, writer Dan Favale believes the franchise “needs him more than most”, citing their lackadaisical long-range shooting and need for an experience secondary ball-handler to run alongside Luka Doncic as their two main reasons:
"Their 14th-place offense and league-worst three-point clip should eventually progress to a happier mean, but they still want for a second perimeter shot creator to alleviate some of the burden on Luka Doncic.Hill doesn’t actualize that roll to perfection. He isn’t your traditional off-the-dribble weapon. But he can put the ball on the floor. His 61.5 percent clip on drives is the fourth-highest among players who average at least seven downhill attacks per game. He’s also shooting 38.6 percent from long distance—including a ridiculous 47.5 percent on catch-and-shoot attempts.Perhaps the Mavericks (and their fans) have bigger names in mind. Fantastic. But pickings are slim. Lowry isn’t on this list for a reason: The Raptors are still good. Dallas doesn’t have the assets to get Beal out of Washington. Victor Oladipo is intriguing, but Hill should come much cheaper and doesn’t lock the Mavericks into any singular offseason scenario."
While we believe there are better trade partners the OKC Thunder should strongly consider pursuing a George Hill trade with, if they’re desperate enough, perhaps Dallas can offer a pretty penny for the seasoned guard.