The deal to send Sacramento Kings guard George Hill was nearly completed two weeks ago, but a slight complication caused a snag in the trade — one that seems farther from happening than before.
According to Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee, Iman Shumpert and Channing Frye were destined to pack their bags to Sacramento in a two-for-one deal, but that would force the Kings to open up a roster spot to take them, likely forcing them to explore the market for Malachi Richardson and Skal Labissiere — two young players they looked to potentially part ways with.
Making a trade before a trade, only to shed Hill’s three-year, $57 million is a lot of work — and one the Kings didn’t seem intent in pursuing just to get Frye and Shumpert to the Golden 1 Center, so talks stalled.
“The Kings really have no reason to move Hill, unless the deal is favorable,” wrote Jones. “So as the Feb. 8 trade deadline approaches, Hill is still a King.
“The Kings are not opposed to making a deal, but it has to make sense as part of the grand plan to maintain financial flexibility for the future, while also being in the position to collect draft picks and young talent.”
As Jones noted, Sacramento would need to be blown away to give them enough reason to move Hill.
Despite getting less minutes in the rotation, Hill has gotten along well with the team’s young players, namely De’Aaron Fox and Bogdan Bogdanovic — and while a $19-million-a-year doesn’t work solely on camaraderie, the team’s main priority is to build on their youth.
