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NBA Trade Grades: Teague To Pacers, Hill To Jazz In 3-Team Deal

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 5, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) defends Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) defends Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Grades
Dec 5, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) dribbles the ball during the second half against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jazz won 122-119 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

Utah Jazz

For the Utah Jazz, this deal is pretty much a home run. Though they had to give up a lottery pick to get some long-awaited help at the point guard spot, this team is already bursting at the seams with young talent like Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert, Rodney Hood, Dante Exum and Trey Lyles.

The Jazz didn’t need another late lottery pick at No. 12, so they turned it into a defensive-minded point guard who fits perfectly with Quin Snyder’s philosophy. Hill brings veteran experience, tough perimeter D and three-point shooting to a team that will welcome help in all three of those areas.

Though Hill only has one year left on his contact, many people thought the 2015-16 season was going to be the year this young core took the next step. Injuries and a shortage of talent at the point guard position derailed that hope, which puts the pressure on Utah to make it back to the postseason in 2016-17.

Adding Hill is a step in the right direction toward that goal, even if he doesn’t move the needle into the contender category. If all goes well for the Jazz, even a one-year rental of Hill would be enough to help make Utah build momentum as a more attractive free agency destination.

Taking away starter’s minutes from Exum may seem like an unfortunate byproduct of this trade, but Exum is coming off an ACL tear and is largely inexperienced still.

Giving him the chance to learn from one of the game’s better veterans is a phenomenal opportunity, though Utah needs to start pawning off its extra point guards on the roster with Hill, Exum, Trey Burke, Shelvin Mack and Raul Neto all on the books for next season.

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Giving up a lottery pick for a 30-year-old point guard doesn’t sound like a great move on paper, but as of right now, the Jazz are the clear winners of this trade as a team looking to make its way back to the playoffs and start building on all this young talent.

Grade: A-

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