3) Buyout market options that fit in right away: George Hill
One of the potential buyout market options for Karnisovas and the Bulls this year could be one that was a Central Division foe of theirs for a long time. And this is one that Donovan and the Bulls are getting to face on this night. Former Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks veteran point guard George Hill is currently 34 years old and hasn’t remained consistently healthy for the Thunder this season.
If the Thunder do decide to take on a full youth movement before next offseason arrives, then Hill could be the first to go once the deadline passes. And while it feels like the Thunder could try and deal Hill at the deadline, there might not be a whole lot of suitors looking for his services. He’s got a sizable contract worth nearly $10 million annually in each of the last two years.
The Thunder would likely have to stretch and waive Hill at this point, but it might be worth it for a team looking to build around rising star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They already made the move to send off star veteran point guard Chris Paul last offseason, in a trade with the Phoenix Suns.
When Hill was healthy for the Thunder this season, he was pretty efficient. He’s registered 16.1 player efficiency rating, 0.4 box plus/minus rating, nearly .150 win shares per 48 minutes, and a rock solid 63.0 true shooting percentage.
If the Bulls are still seeking out a veteran point guard that could fill a role in the starting five after the deadline, then they might not have to look any further than Hill. He could also be a solid mentor for second-year point guard Coby White.