The Philadelphia 76ers have acquired Oklahoma City Thunder point guard George Hill in a three-team trade, according to multiple reports.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are finalizing trading George Hill to the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
The Sixers get George Hill, Ignas Brazdeikis from the Knicks in the three-team trade. OKC gets Bradley and two second round picks from the Sixers along with Austin Rivers from the Knicks. The Knicks get Terrance Ferguson,Vincent Poirier and a 2021 second-round pick from Sixers.
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In the deal – which was first reported just hours before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline – the Sixers will be moving centers Tony Bradley and Vincent Poirier, small forward Terrance Ferguson, as well as second-round picks in 2021, 2025 and 2026. Philadelphia is also getting New York Knicks small forward Ignas Brazdeikis in the transaction.
The Thunder will be getting Bradley, while the Knicks are set to pick up Ferguson, Poirier and the 2021 pick via OKC and move guard Austin Rivers to the Thunder.
The Sixers had reportedly been a serious contender for landing Toronto Raptors star guard Kyle Lowry, but settled on Hill, a 34-year-old journeyman who has not played in a game since undergoing hand surgery in late January.
Sixers Will Be Hill’s Eighth NBA Team, Sixth in Four Years
GettyGeorge Hill, during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, in a playoff game against the Miami Heat in 2020.
Hill is currently under a “lightly guaranteed contract” for the 2021-2022 campaign. According to Basketball Reference, Hill’s contract is partially guaranteed for $1.27 million until June 30, 2021.
The Sixers will have the options of guaranteeing the contract when the time comes, using it in a trade, or cutting the 13-year pro to reduce payroll.
Hill was selected as the 26th overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2008 NBA Draft and has played 799 games in his career, averaging 11.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per contest. His career shooting numbers include a 45.8% mark from the field, 38.4% from deep, and 80.4% figure from the free throw line.
The Indiana native and former Pacers guard had a league-best 46.0 three-point field goal percentage last season, so will add a much-needed shooting spark to the roster. Additionally, Hill will immediately slide into the backup point guard role behind Ben Simmons, as the team’s only other listed point guard is rookie Tyrese Maxey.
Hill has loads of postseason experience – which some members of the youthful Sixers’ group lacks – having played in each of the past five editions of the NBA playoffs. Hill has appeared in 127 career postseason contests (91 starts) and is averaging 12.1 points per game.
Sixers Deal Pair of 2017 Draft Picks in Trade
GettyRecently traded Philadelphia 76ers center Tony Bradley during a January game against the Denver Nuggets.
The most notable loss for the Sixers in the trade is Bradley, who had been forming a nice one-two punch at the center position along with Dwight Howard in the absence of Joel Embiid. In his fourth NBA season since being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers at 28th overall in 2017, Bradley has played in 20 games (eight starts).
The 23-year-old had started each of the last eight games for Philadelphia and in his final game in a Sixers uniform, he not only posted his second double-double of the season, but scored a career-high 18 points.
Ferguson meanwhile offered versatility at the shooting guard and small forward position, but the fellow 2017 draftee (21st overall, Oklahoma City Thunder) wasn’t getting much run this season with just 13 games played. The 22-year-old spent his first three seasons with the Thunder, appearing in 191 games and earning 124 starts.
Ironically, Thursday was the second time in less than four months that Poirier and Ferguson were part of a trade involving the 76ers and Thunder. The duo were moved along with Danny Green on December 8, 2020 from Oklahoma City to Philadelphia in exchange for Al Horford, Théo Maledon, Vasilije Micić and multiple draft picks.
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Sixers Add Thunder Guard in Intriguing 3-Team Trade: Report