Hill’s departure would open the door of opportunity to members of the young (with the exception of Carlos Boozer) Laker’s frontcourt and give them a chance to transition into a more consistent role in coach Scott’s rotation.
Just one week into his Lakers career, Tarik Black is playing like he could be a consistent contributor.
In the first four games with the team, Black is averaging an impressive 8.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in just 18 minutes a game. During that stretch, Black posted a PIE (player impact estimate) of 20.8. Leading Western Conference big men Anthony Davis and Blake Griffin both have a lesser PIE in their last three games. I realize it’s a small sample size–but it’s hard to miss Black’s potential. Remember, he is only 23 years old and played one of the nation’s most elite collegiate teams last year.
CBS Sports NBA writer James Herbert reported last Tuesday that talks between the Oklahoma City Thunder gunning for Nets’ center Brook Lopez have come to a halt as the Nets allegedly decided to hold off on moving Lopez due to recent team success.
Jordan Hill could be the answer to fill the Thunder’s apparent void of frontcourt scoring — the team ranks a rather mediocre 19th in the league in points in the paint per game.
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According to the report, Oklahoma City was offering Kendrick Perkins, Perry Jones, and Lance Thomas to the Nets for Lopez. With that being said, I don’t think they would hesitate to ship Perkins and a draft pick to the Lakers for Hill. Perkins’ value lies in his $9.1 million expiring contract that would help Los Angeles to free up cap space to reel in a player from this summer’s free agent pool that boasts stars like Rajon Rondo, Kevin Love, and LaMarcus Aldridge.
Hill possesses what amounts to a no-trade clause, but the idea of joining a team in the playoff mix would likely be appetizing enough for him to give consent to be dealt.
The Lakers could potentially be stocked with picks in the upcoming June draft as they could have two first-round selections and another in the second round. Collegiate talent looks promising the next couple years, and I expect general manager Mitch Kupchak to invest heavily into his picks and any potential move for Hill would likely require giving one up.
Bottom line: Jordan Hill should be traded at next month’s deadline for Kendrick Perkins’ (or anyone else’s) expiring contract and a solid draft pick. After beginning the season on a tear, Hill’s numbers and intensity are spiraling downward and it’s important for fans to look past Hill’s now average numbers and realize that trading Hill improves the big picture for the Lakers.
Moving Hill would increase capital to spend on a talented free agent group this summer, and an extra pick always benefits teams rebuilding such as the Lakers, especially with the talent en route to the pros.
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