When they host the Kings on Saturday, the Knicks will get a first-hand look at a point guard who they may very well have signed if not for the front office overhaul in New York. Former Knicks president of basketball operations Phil Jackson had made George Hill his top free agent target before he was ousted, a league source tells Marc Berman of The New York Post.
According to Berman’s source, Jackson believed Hill would be capable of mastering the triangle offense, and would serve as an excellent mentor for rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina. Hill, who is friends with Courtney Lee and Joakim Noah, was prepared to discuss contract terms with the Knicks on July 1, Berman writes. With Steve Mills running the show in Jackson’s place by that point though, the club’s interest in Hill was minimal.
At this point, the Knicks’ offseason interest in Hill under Jackson isn’t all that relevant, but it makes for a fascinating “what-if,” since it would have set off a chain reaction that impacted other free agents. Hill ultimately signed a three-year deal worth $57MM with the Kings. If he had received a competitive offer in that range from the Knicks, the team would have almost certainly been out of the running for Tim Hardaway Jr., who may have ended up accepting a more modest contract offer to return to Atlanta.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that Scott Perry, the Knicks’ current general manager, was with Sacramento when the Kings signed Hill. If he had joined the Knicks immediately after Jackson’s dismissal, perhaps New York would have gone just as hard after Hill as Jackson intended to. Perry was hired by the Knicks in mid-July.
As it stands, the Knicks can make the case that they made the right decision in pursuing Hardaway over Hill. Even though Hardaway’s contract was widely panned and may still prove to be a misguided investment, he’s probably a better fit for the Knicks right now than Hill. Jarrett Jack has performed well as Ntilikina’s mentor at point guard, and has done so on a much more affordable contract than Hill’s. Meanwhile, Hill’s 7.8 PPG and .406 FG% in the early going with the Kings are his worst marks since his rookie season in 2008/09.
Another reason why it is a good thing that Phil is gone! The Knicks will not need a George Hill past this year. Nitilikina is growing every game and at this rate he should be starting by January if not sooner. His court vision and defense is ready, he just needs to improve his offense by driving the ball more!
Sorry. Hill would have been a much better player and signing than THJ (at least under the terms the Knicks signed him, still LMAO). Jack’s done a nice job, but Hill is a pro’s pro with a similar skill set to Ntilikina and could be here until the latter is 22 (playing together and alternating). Jackson’s made more than his share of bad moves, but he got about as much out of the draft as someone can when you inherit only 1 draft pick in your first 3 drafts. After the first six months, he made more good personnel moves than bad. It was other things really.
The point is they would have had a PG coming off the bench getting starter’s money. Get over the Hardaway signing. He’s getting more than I would have paid him but he’s 25 playing at sg and Hill is 31 now. Ntilikina will be starting before this season is over and should be getting 30+ minutes. That would have been a worst signing than Hardaway will prove to be even if it’s slightly inflated. BTW Phil got 2 first rd picks and most of the success I credit Clarence Gaines who had to convince Phil to take KP, Willy and Ntilikina.
Willy was drafted by the Sixers. The Knicks traded for him on draft night.
Not really. The trade for the pick was in place and it was the Knicks choice of who to take.
It’s a bad point. TDJ is nothing more than a volume shooter (with horrific shot selection) who is average or below in every other aspect of the game. He’s ceiling is as a scorer off the bench. Hill being 31 doesn’t mean he can’t be a key part of a rebuilding effort; look at how he helped Utah’s young guys last year. Hill wouldn’t limit FN’s minutes now (PGs play 2 and 3 at a time these days if they can all defend) and FN would be better player in 3 years with Hill around. Moreover, Hill could always be traded for value prior to 3 years if it makes sense. THJ? Doubt he’ll ever be tradable with that contract. Shoot first/second/third SGs with blinders and an inability/unwillingness to consistently defend add nothing if their 25 or any other age.
Wrong on the draft. He inherited one 1st round pick in his first three drafts (2014, 2015 and 2016); FN was picked in his fourth draft.
You are wrong on all your points. Fact is Phil had an acquired 2nd rd pick his first draft, KP and Grant (Hardaway trade) were first rd picks the next draft, the next draft he acquired a 2nd rd pick from 76ers and picked Willy and his last draft was Ntilikina the 2nd “inherited 1st rd pick) Your rationale for signing Hill applied only if Phil was running the show. Mills and Perry say they are committed to youth and all their behavior since Phil was fired support that. Hardaway’s contract is inflated but he is still maturing as a player and he is not a PG so your Ntilikina sitting behind Hill for 3 year’s makes no financial or chemistry sense. Hill will be Fox’s backup before this season ends just like Ntilikina will be starting for the Knicks. Except the Knicks signed Jack and Sessions for one year vet minimums and Hill has 3 yrs left at a starters salary.
Do you know what the word “inherited” means? He inherited 1 pick in his first 3 drafts, and 2 in his first 4 drafts. Pretty simple for most to understand. Hill can easily start at 2G, and be better than THJ at it (he’s started more games at 2G than THJ has). If you like THJ and think he can be a high end starting 2G, then fine, we disagree. If you think Hill would just become a backup PG if FN ended up ascending faster than expected, then that’s fine too – few NBA people would agree.
@oldcheapy- I agree except what is going on with Hill this year! Unexpected, but maybe not in Utah, where he didn’t seem to be valued while thete.
Hill and Jeff Teague played against each other in high school in Indianapolis. Teague got his $19 million (Pacers wouldn’t pay it) so Hill got his. Now DeAaron Fox is beginning to start and get playing time.
Right that’s why that was a King’s mistake because they really want Fox to get major minutes not Hill. The Knicks want Ntilikina to get major minutes and you can see he is getting ready to take on more responsibility faster than they thought.
Been so long, I can’t remember the last time the Knicks made a good signing. Hill wouldn’t have been one of them.
The Knicks are 6-4 without Carmelo Anthony. They are off to a good start. Porzingas is great. They have Porzingas, Kanter, and Ntilkina. Courtney Lee played with George Hill and Jeff Teague in Indy. There’s your problem. Take Porzingas, Ntilkina, and Kanter until free agency and go from there. Analysts thought the Knicks would be one of the 7 worst teams in the NBA. The best thing the Knicks didn’t do was trade Porzingas for Marcus Smart and the draft pick.
Jeff Teague and Courtney Lee played together at Pike high school. George Hill played at Broad Ripple and Eric Gordon at North Central in Indianapolis at same time. I’m surprised the Knicks didn’t go for Teague.
Knicks need to resign Kanter.
That KP trade talk led to Dolan firing Phil. Dolan wasn’t going to allow Phil to get rid of KP and Melo and Phil knew it. As for Hill and Teague both are good veteran PG’s that wanted longer term contracts and commanded richer contracts than Mills/Perry were willing to pay a one year mentor for Ntilikina. The Knicks are committed to surrounding KP and Ntilikina with younger players to rebuild the team. Kanter fits in age but there is glut at Center unless the Knicks trade one or more of them.
In high school George Hill was better than Jeff Teague, but Teague alsp played with Courtney Lee.
Cross town Mike Conley and Greg Oden played for Lawrence North in Indianapolis. They all got there money. I remember with the Pacers Hill outscored Damian Lilliard like 39-38 one night. It seemed he was only trying to score what the guy he was guarding was scoring.
You obviously are from Indiana or spent time there. Indiana has long produced some really good players. My boyhood hero was Crispus Attucks’s Oscar Robertson. While I believe Hill has value he needs to be with a winning team but he opted for the $ as he should have at 31. Knicks are building around KP with young players. The current situation is what the new Front Office was looking to have when they took over for Phil. Their young PG being mentored by a veteran at the veteran’s minimum. BTW I agree with their decision and I really like what Ntilikina is bringing to the team: Good defense, Good court vision, strong work ethic and a team first attitude. His scoring ability as a result of the above will certainly improve in the near future.
Was born in Indiana I remember Oscar. Wonder what his stats would have been like if they had the 3 point shot. I saw these guys in high school. I think it’s funny how Teague got $19 million. Hill almost signed a 1 year deal with the Lakers before Sacramento offered $19 million.
LeBron said the Knicks should have taken Dennis Smith. I think DeAaron Fox, Smith, Ntilkina, and Ball will be all-stars eventually.
Hill made his name in San Antonio, but has slowed down. Ntilkina would have ended up starting.
The Pacers drafted Kawhi Leonard, then traded him for Hill since Hill was from Indy. Ouch! Wonder if Leonard would have been as good if he played for the Pacers!