Los Angeles Lakers power forward Jordan Hill has kept drawing high interest from multiple teams on the trading front despite the fact he will miss the next two weeks with a quad injury, a league source disclosed this week.
Enjoying sort of a breakout season, Hill has been by far the most-sought trade asset the Lakers possess all-season long. The 27-year old banger is averaging career-high 12 points and 8 rebounds in 28 minutes, while shooting 47 percent from the field.
According to Sean Deveney of Sporting News, the Lakers have been receiving trade offers for Hill since December, but they haven't had intention in moving their starting power forward then because of their belief they had a chance to make the postseason.
However, after a couple of dreadful months and another season-ending injury to Kobe Bryant (torn rotator cuff), the Lakers front-office's stance in keeping Hill past the trade deadline may have significantly changed.
NBA insiders, including Deveney, are expecting the Lakers to trade Hill in hope of acquiring additional assets in form of draft picks or a talented young player. And although Hill is nursing a quad/hip, speculations are high he might have played his final game with the Lakers as his injury is unlikely to deter suitors from fielding fresh offers for the big man.
"Early in the year, interested teams were told that Hill would not be available. That has not stopped the interest in Hill, who is averaging 12.3 points and 8.0 rebounds, and can potentially be a free agent next summer because he has a team option in his contract. Hill is out with a quad injury and may not play until the deadline hits, but interest in him will remain high."
Aside from upping his statistical line this season, Hill also appears to be a financially-sound trade target because the second year of his current contract is a team option worth $9MM. The Houston Rockets, the Brooklyn Nets, the Phoenix Suns and the Oklahoma City Thunder have been mentioned as suitors for the Lakers big man.
© 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
