[HitsterParticipant]

 With the Pacers and Spurs amongst the leading contenders this season, it had me wondering whether the George Hill and Kawhi Leonard trade was one of those rare trades where both sides benefit. 

In hindsight Kawhi Leonard fell way too low to 15th in 2011draft and either the Pacers chanced their arm and dangled the carrot of the pick to the Spurs or more likely the Spurs saw Leonard was dropping and decided to cash in on Hill to get him.

Hill remaining on the Spurs would have left him still playing behind Tony Parker and competing with Manu Ginobli for backcourt bench minutes unless Coach Poppovich had slid him over to play some SG alongside Parker. The Spurs would have still had a hole at SF which Leonard has filled.

If the Pacers had kept Leonard, they would have had to find a PG from somewhere and whilst they could have played Leonard around Grainger and George their line up may have been different to what it is now. They would have needed a PG, they may not have signed David West and could have looked to have played Grainger at PF and would Leonard and Lance Stephenson have maybe stopped each others development. 

With Hill in place at PG, the Pacers gave Stephenson the SG role at which he has excelled and their current roster has not looked back since.

So overall I think this trade worked out nicely for both teams plus the Spurs still have a couple of guys stashed abroad with 2nd round picks from the trade which we need to keep an eye on.

 

 

 

 

 

[PhogifyParticipant]

 A lineup of PG: Stephenson (who knows how good of a point guard he could be if he was given the opportunity?) SG: Leonard SF: George PF: West C: Hibbert would sounds pretty exciting though. Both teams benefitted but I have to think that the Spurs benefitted a bit more.

[PhogifyParticipant]

 A lineup of PG: Stephenson (who knows how good of a point guard he could be if he was given the opportunity?) SG: Leonard SF: George PF: West C: Hibbert would sounds pretty exciting though. Both teams benefitted but I have to think that the Spurs benefitted a bit more.

[kmp07sParticipant]

Leonard is undoubtedly the better player. Sure Hill is more in line with what the Pacers needed and allowed Stephenson to develop…but imo you take the superior player every time. That said, who knows how Leonard would have developed if he was a backup for the Pacers.

[kmp07sParticipant]

Leonard is undoubtedly the better player. Sure Hill is more in line with what the Pacers needed and allowed Stephenson to develop…but imo you take the superior player every time. That said, who knows how Leonard would have developed if he was a backup for the Pacers.

[druneave3Participant]

 Pop and the Spurs have shown an amazing ability to find talent, and find creative ways to get that talent (starting with the perfect tank job and getting the best PF of all time). Even at SDSU Leonard has been known as a player with an extremely strong work ethic and a guy who just fits the Sprus way. He might have slipped on draft night but I have a feeling they were targeting him before that. His length, defense, and work ethic are all things that George Hill have but there is one difference. George Hill doesn’t have the ability to guard LeBron James or KD. Don’t you go with size 99% of the time? I am interested to see how Leonard evolves once Parker/Duncan/Manu are all gone and he takes a lead role. What will we be saying about the trade then? I have a feeling it will only increase the legendary career of Pop and the Spur way. 

That Duncan injury was a bit scary. I am really rooting for them to win it all this year. 

 

[druneave3Participant]

 Pop and the Spurs have shown an amazing ability to find talent, and find creative ways to get that talent (starting with the perfect tank job and getting the best PF of all time). Even at SDSU Leonard has been known as a player with an extremely strong work ethic and a guy who just fits the Sprus way. He might have slipped on draft night but I have a feeling they were targeting him before that. His length, defense, and work ethic are all things that George Hill have but there is one difference. George Hill doesn’t have the ability to guard LeBron James or KD. Don’t you go with size 99% of the time? I am interested to see how Leonard evolves once Parker/Duncan/Manu are all gone and he takes a lead role. What will we be saying about the trade then? I have a feeling it will only increase the legendary career of Pop and the Spur way. 

That Duncan injury was a bit scary. I am really rooting for them to win it all this year. 

 

[juves4783Participant]

barkley last night was saying leonard was a top 10-20 player in the league.  i could only imagine a lineup of leonard and george.  that would cause major havocs on both ends to the opposing teams wings.

[juves4783Participant]

barkley last night was saying leonard was a top 10-20 player in the league.  i could only imagine a lineup of leonard and george.  that would cause major havocs on both ends to the opposing teams wings.

[The QParticipant]

 Without the Spurs shooting coach (seriously how is no one throwing an ATM machine at this guy?) I doubt we’re talking about Leonard the way we are. 

He wasn’t a very good shooting coming out of SDSU. 

 

 

[juves4783Participant]

yeah, let’s not give the kid any credit.

smh…

 

[juves4783Participant]

yeah, let’s not give the kid any credit.

smh…

 

[The QParticipant]

 Without the Spurs shooting coach (seriously how is no one throwing an ATM machine at this guy?) I doubt we’re talking about Leonard the way we are. 

He wasn’t a very good shooting coming out of SDSU. 

 

 

[i’m jus so offendedParticipant]

I started an NBA2k franchise with this trade never happening. It was pretty delightful to run the floor with those two and switch throughout a game as defender between either of them or Hibbert. I’m not sure what the Pacers would have done at PG but for the amount of money they threw at Hill, they probably could coralled someone just as servicable. I think the Spurs won this deal by a long shot.

[i’m jus so offendedParticipant]

I started an NBA2k franchise with this trade never happening. It was pretty delightful to run the floor with those two and switch throughout a game as defender between either of them or Hibbert. I’m not sure what the Pacers would have done at PG but for the amount of money they threw at Hill, they probably could coralled someone just as servicable. I think the Spurs won this deal by a long shot.

[NCarmean18Participant]

 This really was a win-win trade for both squads.  The Spurs desperately needed help on the wing, and Kawhi provided them with youth and energy, something the Spurs have been lacking for a while.  Not only is Kawhi a good energy guy and a good perimeter defender, but he has a very underrated offensive game and he could step up as one of the better scoring small forwards in the league once Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili decide to hang it up.  

Indiana lost out on a fantastic prospect, but they were building themselves into contenders.  I love what George Hill has brought to this squad, and this was one of the beginning steps that led to a championship-calibur team in Indiana.  Hill is good at what the Pacers need him to do, and he is the type of player that Frank Vogel loves coaching. He’s tough, gritty, a great defender, and a good teammate.  You couldn’t ask for much more than that by trading away a mid first round draft selection.  

This was a good trade on both sides. 

 

 

 

[NCarmean18Participant]

 This really was a win-win trade for both squads.  The Spurs desperately needed help on the wing, and Kawhi provided them with youth and energy, something the Spurs have been lacking for a while.  Not only is Kawhi a good energy guy and a good perimeter defender, but he has a very underrated offensive game and he could step up as one of the better scoring small forwards in the league once Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili decide to hang it up.  

Indiana lost out on a fantastic prospect, but they were building themselves into contenders.  I love what George Hill has brought to this squad, and this was one of the beginning steps that led to a championship-calibur team in Indiana.  Hill is good at what the Pacers need him to do, and he is the type of player that Frank Vogel loves coaching. He’s tough, gritty, a great defender, and a good teammate.  You couldn’t ask for much more than that by trading away a mid first round draft selection.  

This was a good trade on both sides. 

 

 

 

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