At the upcoming NBA trade deadline on February 19th, it is clear the Los Angeles Lakers will be sellers seeking to unload veteran players in exchange for younger guys and/or draft picks that fit into their long term plan.
The problem for the Lakers is their lack of enticing trade bait. It appears that the only players on the roster attracting interest around the league are the Lakers’ current starting frontcourt duo: Jordan Hill and Ed Davis.
Last week’s signing of 6-foot-9 Tarik Black by the Lakers could be a form of foreshadowing from the Lakers front office of what is to transpire at the deadline. The Lakers now have an excess of five big men on the roster, and four of them see the floor at least 15 minutes a game on average.
Considering the recent stockpile of frontcourt players, it seems imminent that a big man (or two) will be getting shipped off at the deadline. With that being said, who should it be? Jordan Hill.
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It will cripple Lakers fans, including myself, to see him depart Los Angeles in the midst of the best season of his career, but it is the right move for the team moving forward. This year, Hill, 27, is posting career highs in points, rebounds, and assists.
However, December was not kind to Hill. Over the course of the month, Hill’s production decreased dramatically. In the 17 games Hill played in before December 1st, he nearly averaged a double-double with 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. In 15 December games, Hill managed only 10.7 points and 6.1 rebounds a game.
As a result, concerns emerged questioning Hill’s energy (or lack there of). Head coach Byron Scott chalked it up to Hill not being acclimated to the higher amount of minutes he’s now getting, but also suggested that teams may be figuring Hill out, which is troubling.
While Hill has played well recently, the Lakers should consider moving him soon.
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CONTINUE READING: Why The Lakers Need To Trade Jordan Hill By February’s Deadline
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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