The Utah Jazz went into this off-season desperate for a starting point guard. With Trey Burke not quite ready to take charge of a team yet and Dante Exum injured for the whole season, the Utah Jazz hand was forced to search for a point guard this summer. They made the decision quick to trade for Indiana Pacers point guard George Hill in a 3-way trade that would land the Pacers Jeff Teague.
Hill is now entering an exciting young group of players in Utah that are hungry to win. With the core of Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward and Rodney Hood, Hill’s veteran experience can be important. Although Hill must be happy now that he is in a system he can thrive, the way that Larry Bird let him know he was traded must sting. According to Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo Sports, Bird let Hill know he was traded via voicemail:
After a workout, Hill first learned he was traded when he listened to a voicemail from Pacers President Larry Bird saying “we had to trade you to Utah.”
[…] “It came as a surprise. Last time I checked, I was supposed to retire from Indiana. Very surprising, but I know this is a business and anything can happen. So, I’m not upset about it. I think I’m in a great situation here. I’m here, somewhere where I feel wanted right now.”
I guess you have to find out the news somehow. Hill should look on the bright side. He’s in a new system in Utah that has labeled him the starting point guard. Hill averaged 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Pacers, and hopefully he can prove to be a reliable option for the Jazz.
