King James Gospel
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Cavs should consider trading George Hill to Suns

By Nathan Beighle

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 03: George Hill #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts against the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 03: George Hill #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts against the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – MAY 15: George Hill #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Boston Celtics during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 15: George Hill #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Boston Celtics during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Why Phoenix does the deal

The Phoenix Suns, who will be dealing one of the main members of their future core, make this trade for two reasons.

The Suns won’t be able to sign everyone. They’ve already extended Devin Booker and TJ Warren. For the long-term, they also need to leave appropriate money open for Deandre Ayton, Miles Bridges and Josh Jackson.

Assuming they’re thinking way into the future, Phoenix can’t pay all three of those studs, keep Booker and Warren and also extend/re-sign Bender. There isn’t that much money to go around, so they need to pick and choose their battles.

Secondly, they have frontcourt depth while not having much leadership and consistency at the one. Booker needs a competent, pass-first guard to run the show, and after a failed experiment with Elfrid Payton, Phoenix could use a sound point guard.

Hill, unlike Phoenix’s younger, more elite targets like Terry Rozier or Kemba Walker, would be cheap and easily allow their offense to continue to flow through Devin Booker, keeping their superstar shooting guard happy.

Hill has played alongside either Paul George or LeBron James for most of his career, so playing the second or third fiddle is something he’s accustomed to.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Top 30 all-time greatest players. dark. Next

For those two reasons and the numerous aforementioned reasons why Cleveland would do this deal, it seems at least somewhat ideal for both teams to make this a reality.