The Los Angeles Lakers only have eight games remaining this season. After the year comes to an end April 15, the focus will shift into figuring out whom from the roster the front office would want to return.
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One player whose future remains in question is Jordan Hill. During the off-season last summer, Hill signed a two-year deal that included a team option for the 2015-16 season. According to the Sporting News’ Sean Deveney, there is a belief the Lakers could exercise their option on Hill:
Though the assumption when Jordan Hill signed a two-year deal worth $18 million last summer was that the Lakers would deal him by the trade deadline and that the second year of his contract (a team option) would not be exercised, sources have said all year that there is a distinct possibility the Lakers will, in fact, keep Hill going forward.”
Hill has been averaging career bests with 12.3 points and 8.2 rebounds this season while playing in 66 games and starting 55. While the Lakers have struggled to find consistency all year, Hill’s play has been solid through the rough season.
Since only Kobe Bryant, Nick Young, Julius Randle, and Ryan Kelly have guaranteed deals next season, there will be plenty of holes the team will need to address over the summer. The team will have ample cap space to make runs at free agents, but will have $9 million less should they keep Hill.
Other big men available over the summer include Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Greg Monroe. All three are expected to look for a max deal or remain with their respective teams which would imply the Lakers need to look elsewhere. The Lakers could also potentially add one through the draft with their top-five protected pick or late first rounder.
[divide]Lakers Sign Rookie Jabari Brown To Multi-Year Contract
