The Utah Jazz and their point guard, George Hill, will not be getting a deal done by the end of the day, according to Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune.
Breaking: George Hill and the Jazz will not reach a deal on a contract extension, league sources tell The Salt Lake Tribune. Story to come
— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) February 28, 2017
After being on the team for just a season, the Jazz still figure Hill to be a part of their future despite not being able to come to a solution on his contract negotiations, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Whether or not Jazz get a George Hill extension done by deadline, the veteran PG figures prominently in team’s future plans.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 28, 2017
Since the two sides were not able to come to terms on a new contract, the Jazz and George Hill will not be able to sign a new contract until the start of July.
In his first season as a Jazz, Hill has had some health problems that has only allowed him to play in 34 of his team’s 59 games. However, the 30-year-old is averaging career highs in points per game (17.7), field goal percentage (47.9 percent), field goal attempts (12.7), field goals made (6.1) three-point attempts (5.1), three-point makes (2.1), three point percentage (41.3 percent), and eFG% (56.1 percent). He is also currently tied with his career high of 1.1 steals per game.
George Hill was traded from the Indiana Pacers to the Jazz this past summer in a deal that sent their pick — 12th overall in the 2016 draft — to the Atlanta Hawks, with Jeff Teague being sent to the Pacers. Hill is in the final year of his contract worth $8 million.
The Jazz are going to have to figure out their free agent issues this summer as Hill isn’t the only big free agent they’ll have to re-sign. Gordon Hayward has a player option and is most likely going to decline in order to get a max contract. Joe Ingles, Shelvin Mack, and Jeff Withey are also free agents this summer.
