3. Jordan Hill Shouldn’t Be Brought Back.
Rumor has it the Lakers are interested in having Hill around next season. Hopefully, that kind of talk is only intended to drum up a market to trade him near the Draft, because there’s absolutely no reason to have Hill on the roster again next season. This isn’t to say Hill is a bad player — he’s not, though his growing affection for jump shots is concerning. Nor is it based on his performance this year relative to last (which, as you can see here, has been much worse). The biggest issue is opportunity cost. Nine million going to Hill means nine million that can’t go to something else. Maybe Ed Davis — my feelings on him can be found here — or Greg Monroe or LaMarcus Aldridge or Khris Middleton or whatever free agent might be interested. Just as importantly, it’s nine million the Lakers can’t use to absorb a contract in a Jeremy Lin-esque deal potentially getting them back in next year’s Draft. Sure, they could whiff on the FA’s and trades, then find themselves without Hill. So what? Sign someone else to a one-year deal, and move on.
CONTINUE READING: Five Things The 2014-15 Los Angeles Lakers Season Taught Us
