LA Clippers: Pass or pursue on three rumored NBA trade deadline targets
By Dalton Sell
Should the LA Clippers pass on or pursue rumored trade target George Hill?
Several contending teams will have their eyes on George Hill ahead of the trade deadline, and Mannix reports that the LA Clippers are among those on the list.
Hill was traded to a rebuilding OKC Thunder squad this offseason, and it seemed clear that he would be a premier trade candidate down the road for contenders. General manager Sam Presti has spent the last few months hoarding draft capital in exchange for talent on his roster, and Hill falls into that category.
Averaging 11.8 points on .508/.386/.840 shooting splits with 3.1 assists per game, Hill had certainly been making a strong impression for teams looking to add a point guard before the deadline. However, he has been out of the lineup since Jan. 24 after undergoing a minor procedure on his injured thumb that initially had him slated to miss at least four weeks.
The guard should be nearing his return to action, although it will likely not be as a member of the Thunder. Hill’s reputable numbers this season make him a feasible trade target for teams, and his reasonable salary should only further boost that interest. On the books for $9.6 million this year, a financially limited team like the Clippers could make a move without gutting a large portion of their roster.
Hill would give them that floor general in the second unit who can take ballhandling pressure away from Kawhi Leonard and Paul George while conjuring up offense for himself and others. The guard also has valuable postseason experience, something that could go a long way for this team.