A free agent in the summer of 2017, George Hill inked a three-year, $57MM deal with the Kings, the largest contract of his NBA career. However, Hill and the Kings have been a mismatch so far, resulting in a frustrating season for the veteran point guard, as Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee details.
“Very frustrating,” Hill said. “I’ve never been through anything like this, not ever. It’s not what I expected, a little more difficult than I anticipated. I think as a team we all get along. We like being around each other, like doing things together. But we’re still trying to learn each other, and it’s a different style of play. I’ve just got to figure things out.”
Brought in as a veteran mentor for Sacramento’s rookie point guards De’Aaron Fox and Frank Mason, Hill has struggled with his role and has seen his production drop off precipitously. After averaging a career-high 16.9 PPG in Utah last season, Hill is scoring just 10.1 PPG this season, along with a modest 2.7 APG.
With Hill set to earn $20MM this season and $19MM next year, his contract won’t be an easy one to move before next month’s trade deadline. Still, the 31-year-old – aware that his stint in Sacramento isn’t playing out like he or the team had hoped – sounds prepared to move on if the Kings go in that direction.
“One thing I’ve learned is that you have to keep your bags packed,” Hill said. “You never know. If it happens, it happens. But I’ve made great relationships in this locker room and with this club. If I leave, I’ll look them in the face, shake their hand and thank them for the opportunity.”
My Knicks should have signed George. We are a mess right now and Porzingis is complaining about being tired, we have no floor general.
Maybe if they were going to compete this year. But it’s better they didn’t pay him so much and Ntilikina gets minutes to develop now. Also definitely not saying the Hardaway Jr. contract was good by any means, but they wouldn’t have signed him if they got Hill and even though he’s out right now, he makes them better than Hill would’ve imo
They obviously miss Tim’s scoring which is the reason they are struggling. Hardaway Jr fills up the stat sheet and has developed into much more then just a shooter, he impacts that offense so much. Everyone should he available except Tim,KP, and Kanter.
Moving Kyle and Noah with their pick this year should be in their plans to bring in another piece, I was thinking maybe they move Noah with the pick for Monroe and Warren. What do you think?
I’m not sure the Suns would want to trade Warren, he just broke out this year for them and I think they just gave him an extension too. I’m all for moving Kyle, but probably for help on the wing especially so Willy can get some playing time. Monroe would basically be similar to Kanter and they already have a lot of big men. Moving Noah with a pick would be smart if they expect to compete in the next 1-2 years.
why is this overpaid guy complaining?
Agreed. Man, some athletes and the money they make. Not your average American worker making $10 an hour…
Overpaid, but the market dictated his value. Just as it does with this making $10/hr
“I make less money than this guy so his opinions are invalid”
Knicks could still use Hill. Both he and Frank are big enough to guard the two, and with Jack on a non-guaranteed deal, they could clear him out and give his minutes to Hill, which doesn’t take away from Frank’s either.
except there’s a $19M difference between the two and the Knicks would have to move players/money to make it happen.
He acts like he was forced to go to Sacramento
Seriously as if Rudy Gay didn’t give up $14 million off an Achilles tear just to leave there lol
Wha?? If I’m a GM, he did not make himself desirable with those comments. Not only did he choose to take their $19M, he did so after they drafted DeAaron Fox and Frank Mason.
If he didn’t know what time it was, then I can’t take a low-IQ player on my squad. Maybe there’s a reason folks have been willing to part with him over the years.
agreed. it’s his fault for being dumb enough to sign with the Kings. what did he think was going to happen?
Hill needs to STF up! He went to sack-of-potatoes as a pure money grab and now he whines. He left a good Utah team for a bottom dweller. Suffer!
cavs should get him and cut d rose
Cavs can’t afford the 19 million.
Such poster negativity! He was signed by a GM who left the team 3 days later, after only 3 months with the team, and having also drafted PGs in both rounds. The franchise apparently then took a different direction. Blame Scott Perry for Hill’s windfall, $12mil more than he ever made before, not Hill, who took the $ like people do. Utah did NOT want him back that much, especially if they had to bid him up. Check the articles at the time. He had a good 1 year there at $8mil so who knows why. He has enough professional pride to regret not contributing more although he is shooting well.
A team who has salary of their own to dump could make a good trade here, although Hill is 31 with 3 years left and his D has slumped.
Can’t blame Scott Perry honestly. He got a better position with the Knicks because of how well he did his job in 1 month. If anything blame Vlade and Peja if their whole strategy is just to hire guys who can figure it out. If you’re only as good as the people you hire and have no plan for a team, if you have a roster stocked full of young players and you go sign Z-Bo, George Hill, and Vince Carter, that’s just bad direction from the top
He got the Knicks job because of his work in one month? Same guy who was fired in Orlando? I wish the Kings kept him. Now he’s the Knicks problem.