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
