The J-Notes
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George Hill Headed to Utah Jazz for No. 12 Pick

By Ryan Aston

Dec 5, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (3) defends against Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) during the first half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (3) defends against Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) during the first half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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On the eve of the 2016 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz will reportedly swing their No. 12 pick for Indiana Pacers guard George Hill in a three-way trade.

With the Utah Jazz failing to make the playoffs this past season, hoops pundits and fans alike have cited point guard production and veteran help–specifically on the wings–as areas the team would have to address in order to get over the hump in 2016-17.

With the 2016 NBA Draft fast-approaching, it seems that Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey may have leveraged the team’s No. 12 pick to hit two birds with one stone.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Jazz, Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks are completing a three-way deal that will bring veteran point man George Hill to Utah. The Pacers would receive Jeff Teague, while the Atlanta would acquire Utah’s No. 12 pick in the reported deal.

Lindsey worked in the front office of Hill’s original team, the San Antonio Spurs, when the club drafted him out of IUPUI in 2008.

The six-foot-three, 190 pound Hill averaged 12 points, four rebounds, 3.5 assists and one steal per game for the Pacers last season. He also hit on nearly 41 percent of his three-point shot attempts.

He has a reputation as a strong defender, aided by a six-foot-nine wingspan, with the ability to defend multiple positions and can play with or without the ball in his hands offensively.

Hill, 30, would provide the Jazz with a player to hold down the fort at point guard while Dante Exum works to return from a torn ACL and develops as a young player in the league. He also has the ability to share the court with Exum on the wings and adds to an increasingly versatile Jazz lineup.

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No other pieces are currently being reported as being on the move in the rumored deal, which would leave the Jazz with a curious situation at the point guard position.

Counting Shelvin Mack, whom the team holds a contract option on for next season, and Trey Burke, who was already the odd man out in a crowded point guard rotation, the Jazz would have five point guards on their roster should they acquire Hill from Indiana.

Once the reported deal comes to fruition, Lindsey clearly has some work left to do.