NBA trade rumors 2018: Will the Kings ever trade George Hill?

The Sacramento Kings are still looking for a trade partner for veteran point guard George Hill, according to The Sacramento Bee’s Jason Jones, but they haven’t found a deal that suits their best interest. Hill, 31, is a two-way combo guard shooting better than 45 percent from both the field and three-point range. He is averaging about 10 points, three assists, and three rebounds midway through the season.

Hill can be a valuable contributor for a number of playoff teams, and Sacramento understands that. The Kings are also a forward-thinking franchise shying away from long-term contracts. They want to take back young players and draft picks in any deal for Hill, who signed a three-year, $57 million deal in the summer and is scheduled to make $20 million alone this season.

Yes, but it’s probably a deal they have little to no interest in. The Cavaliers are still interested in dealing for Hill, according to Jones, but it is unclear what they would give up in order to land him. Cleveland would also need to match Hill’s $20 million salary, meaning Sacramento would have to take an unfavorable contract in return.

The Rockets also have interest in Hill, according to Jones, which would give the Rockets a deadly three-pronged point guard attack with Chris Paul and James Harden. But again, the salary implications hold up this deal. The Kings would have to take back Ryan Anderson’s contract, and Anderson is scheduled to collect $40 million over the two season after this one.

If the Kings don’t trade Hill now, guess what? They could hold and trade him over the summer. That way, they could move Hill to a team on draft day in a move to secure another pick in the loaded 2018 NBA Draft.

Sacramento appears to be in no rush to part ways with Hill. As long as they keep him, he’ll be a mentor to the younger players the Kings hope will drag them out of their 11-year playoff drought. And if they find a deal that works, well, that’s even better.