After missing out on a lucrative contract extension with the Utah Jazz, George Hill finally got his big deal with the Sacramento Kings.
Years from now, when I think about former Utah Jazz point guard George Hill, I’ll wonder what might have been. Chances are the floor general — who in many ways was the prototypical Jazzman — will do the same. Nevertheless, Hill finally managed to get his big payday.
After failing to reach agreement on an extension with Utah that potentially would’ve paid him an additional $13.6 million last season, plus $75 million over the next three years in February, the 31-year-old has reportedly agreed to a three-year, $57 million contract to play in
Basketball Purgatory
Sacramento with the Kings.
The Vertical’s Shams Charania was the first to report on the deal.
Free agent George Hill has reached agreement on a three-year, $57M deal with the Sacramento Kings, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2017
The Kings reportedly own a team option on the final year of his contract.
Hill joined the Jazz last July when the they dealt the draft rights to Taurean Prince in a three-team trade to acquire the point guard. The move paid huge dividends for the Jazz last season as Hill had a career year, helping the team win 51 games and a first-round playoff series.
Although he missed 33 games due to injury, Hill averaged 16.9 points, four assists and three rebounds per contest, while shooting over 40 percent from three-point range.
Without question, the partnership between Hill and the Jazz was a fruitful one. As such, he and the team were believed to have mutual interest in extending his deal. However, no agreement could be reached despite the substantial offer from Utah. So, despite being the text book example of a player with “Jazz DNA,” Hill found himself on the outside looking in.
Ahead of free agency, Hill changed his representation. Whether or not the failed extension talks were a factor in his decision is unknown.
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In any event, Hill still managed to secure a deal that will pay him an average annual salary of $19 million. It’s a nice payday for the former Jazzman given a free agent point guard market that may have been less lucrative than his camp expected.
At the very least, it’s better than the one-year deal with the LA Lakers he had been considering, according to an ESPN report.
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Former Memphis Grizzlies star Zach Randolph will also join Hill with the Kings after reportedly agreeing to a two-year, $24 million deal.