George Hill might not be the name everyone thought would headline a mid-season trade but he is the primary player being traded as part of a three-team deal on Friday night. Hill was reportedly let it be known that he was not told the right information about the Cleveland Cavaliers intentions to go younger this season and seemingly tank. The Cavs elected to trade another veteran guard just less than two weeks after they traded Kyle Korver to the Utah Jazz.
The deal sees the Milwaukee Bucks acquire Hill in exchange for Matthew Dellavedova, John Henson a first round pick and a second round pick. Dellevadova famously got his career started with the Cavs and made a name for himself in the 2015 NBA Finals when he played a major part of a depleted Cavaliers team going up against Stephen Curry and playing himself to the point of dehydration. Henson is currently dealing with an injury that will keep him out well into the new year and Sam Dekker, who was traded to the Washington Wizards as a part of this deal, is also currently injured but he could see the court before 2018 comes to an end.
Multiple outlets broke the news when it was originally reportedly agreed upon but the teams officially announced the deal on Friday night.
The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired guard George Hill and forward Jason Smith, a 2021 second-round draft pick and cash considerations as part of a three-team trade that includes Cleveland and Washington.
Milwaukee sends guard Matthew Dellavedova, center John Henson, a future first-round draft pick and a 2021 second-round draft pick to Cleveland. Washington sends forward Jason Smith, cash considerations and removes the protections placed on the 2020 second-round pick traded in the Jodie Meeks deal to Milwaukee, and a 2022 second-round draft pick to Cleveland. Cleveland sends guard George Hill and a 2021 second-round draft pick to Milwaukee, and forward Sam Dekker to Washington.
The deal might not move anything exponentially for either the Wizards or Cavs but this deal does help the Bucks secure a solid backup, a veteran point guard that can either lead the offense or play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe or Malcolm Brogdon. The other players in this deal are fine rotation pieces but as far as on-court, the deal isn’t moving anyone in a major way. The Bucks do manage to get rid of the final two years of the contracts for both Henson Dellavedova’s four-year contracts. Safe to say neither of those deals really paid off for the Bucks.
The Cavs bring back a fan favorite and it could also be a chance for Dellavedova to prove he might still be a player to consider on NBA rosters. He has been in and out of the rotation for the Bucks almost immediately after he signed his long-term deal in the summer of 2016. But they also get some draft assets in the deal and continue to angle for a tank to the top of the lottery.
