Why the Philadelphia 76ers Should Avoid George Hill

As much as the Philadelphia 76ers need a point guard, they should not look to the Utah Jazz’s George Hill to fill that need.

The NBA Draft and free agency draw near. Teams are doing their homework trying to figure out where they have needs and who can fill them. The Philadelphia 76ers have a glaring need at the point guard position. One name that comes to mind in filling this need is Utah Jazz guard George Hill.

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Now, Hill has had himself quite a season. In fact, George Hill has had one of, if not the best, years of his career. Yet, while the need exists, the Philadelphia 76ers should not pursue him. If anything, a George Hill signing could do more harm than good.

While the Sixers need a point guard, the team has plenty of flexibility in this area. The hopeful return of Ben Simmons, other free agent prospects, and the NBA Draft all come into play here. The options are vast and plentiful, so handcuffing yourself to a George Hill may not make the most sense.

Is Age but a Number?

To begin, let’s a take a look at the George Hill in his current state. Now, it can’t go unsaid that he as had a career year. In terms of the numbers put up, Hill clearly has stepped up for the Utah Jazz. This season, he’s averaged 16.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.

With numbers like that, the argument can be made in favor of Hill. Well, yes and no. Obviously, he’s showing steady improvements in his game. But, that simply won’t cut it for the Philadelphia 76ers. If anything, despite his constant progress, George Hill’s age hinders him.

Philadelphia 76ers

Now, George Hill just turned 31 this past Thursday. His contract expires at the end of this season. Considering his recent body of work, Hill will most likely demand a max contract, or at least something close to it. In this year’s free agent climate, that equates to a four-year, $132 million contract.

Now, let’s say that the contract was a flat, meaning that he gets paid the same amount every year. That means that George Hill would make $33 million per year. That would make Hill the highest paid point guard in the league, other existing factors excluded. Although, normally NBA players sign backloaded contracts, meaning that each year you progressively make more.

As ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported back in February, Hill and his representatives believe that he can get that max deal. Now, this comes as no surprise. You only have so many opportunities to get paid in the NBA. For Hill, at 31 years old, that window keeps getting smaller.

Is Hill a Max-Worthy Player?

Well, yes and no. On a talent basis, George Hill has the tools to play quality starter minutes. On the offensive end, it all began to come together for him. Regardless of whether or not George Hill should get a max contract, most likely he will. The persistence of Hill’s agent to try and get him a max deal only makes this more likely.

But, for the Philadelphia 76ers, giving George Hill a max contract would prove detrimental. Yes, they would acquire a quality starting point guard to pair with their young core of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. However, how much can George Hill do for them in the long run? Not to mention, Hill didn’t play more than 49 games in two of the last three seasons.

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Remember, Hill wants to get a max deal for not only the maximum amount of dollars, but years as well. He cares about financial security just as much as a guy his age should. The question shouldn’t be “What can George Hill give me now?”. It should be “What does George Hill give me in year three or four of this deal?”.

The way I see it, the Philadelphia 76ers have the tools to make the jump either this season or the next one. With all the talent they have, along with their assets that could bare fruits, any misstep could prove fatal.

Denouement

George Hill can easily yield a max, especially in this year’s star-studded market. Teams will most likely overspend on players who normally wouldn’t go for as much. But, that does not mean that the Philadelphia 76ers need to fall into this trap. Considering their own history of taking on injury-prone players, signing one on a max deal seems counterintuitive.

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So, if the Philadelphia 76ers want to make smart moves in free agency, signing George Hill may not make the most sense. With his age, his injury history, and the overall status of the team, they should look elsewhere. Yes, George Hill is a good player, and should get a max deal. He earned it. However, the Sixers should not fall victim to said circumstances.