15 months ago, the Utah Jazz turned the 12th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft into George Hill in what seemed like a stroke of brilliance. But with Hill having skipped town, one must wonder whether or not it was a good trade after all.
On draft night in 2016, Dennis Lindsey made a move that would eventually launch the Utah Jazz into the playoffs after a four-year drought. He traded Taurean Prince (the 12th pick) to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team-deal that would bring George Hill to Utah. At the time, Jazz fans marveled at the ability of Utah’s front office to turn a late lottery pick in a shallow draft class into a proven veteran.
It made the Jazz a far better team on paper and it showed on the court as well with Hill having a monster start to the season. Sadly, it didn’t take long for injuries to derail Hill’s season and he was never able to prove his worth when it mattered most; missing three of the four games against the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs.
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While Hill’s season turned into a frustrating struggle, Prince had an incredible rookie campaign. He showed plenty of flashes during the regular season and despite flying under the radar, he prepared himself for a nice future in the NBA.
He had a rather typical offensive season for a rookie, averaging 5.7 points in 16.6 minutes per game, but he rebounded the ball exceptionally well for his size and he proved to be a real team player that could get after it defensively.
After breaking into the starting lineup late in the season for the Hawks, he got his chance to shine in the playoffs. Atlanta played John Wall and the Washington Wizards in the first round, but Prince was equal to the daunting task and was one of the series’ best players.
He increased his scoring average to 11.2, he pulled down 5.3 rebounds a game while completely nullifying Otto Porter at the defensive end; holding him to just 9.8 points per game. Porter went on to dominate in Washington’s second-round series against the Boston Celtics, averaging 14.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals after being released from the shackles of Taurean Prince.
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After the postseason game to a close, Prince remained focused on improvement and the season ahead while Hill was acquired by the Sacramento Kings in free agency.
But how did Hill help the Jazz with his time in Utah?
The merit behind bringing Hill to Salt Lake City was to develop a win-now mentality that would entice Gordon Hayward to stay. If Hill had never been traded to the Jazz, Dante Exum likely would have returned to the starting lineup. It’s hard to tell how Exum’s season would have panned out under those circumstances and how it would have changed the Jazz’s win total.
Without George Hill, I don’t believe the Jazz could have clinched the fifth seed or won a playoff series, but how important is that in the big picture? Hayward still left and the Jazz got nothing for Hill when he left in free agency. The only difference it makes right now is having a less-developed Exum.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not pointing fingers at all; if I were Dennis Lindsey a year ago and the opportunity came to trade the 12th pick for Hill, I would in a heartbeat. But it may not have turned out for the best.
Hill is now prepping for his debut in a Sacramento Kings uniform while Prince is hoping to be a Most Improved Player candidate. Five years from now, Hill will be 36 and could possibly be retired. At the same time, I have a hard time seeing Prince without an All-Star appearance next to his name (provided he stays in the Eastern Conference). He looks like he’ll develop into an elite defender that has the athletic capabilities to be a star if he can refine his offensive skillset.
So with all considered, if Hill and/or Hayward had stayed with Utah, the Jazz would have no regrets about dealing Prince. In hindsight, though, the trade may not have been in the best interest of the Jazz.
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Statistics courtesy of Basketball Reference.