How many guys, one year removed from being a lottery pick, can be had? Jordan Hill has potential, is on a rookie contract, and can be part of a rebuilding process for a team. It's pretty clear cut. Rockets fans drool over a Ricky Rubio, and think he's the next best thing since sliced bread, but are quick to knock Jordan Hill's potential. He was a lottery pick for a reason, has the tools and measurements to succeed in this league.
Just one. It started with the report that Toronto would be interested in Hill in a SnT deal for Bosh. The board took that and ran with it a bit -- but so far that's the only article I've seen saying that a team wants Hill.
He's got the physical and athletic ability. Does he have the NBA basketball IQ? If his Baskeball IQ is average for NBA players, I think that Hill is going to be at worst a legitimate backup center and power foward for any team in the NBA. If Hills basketball IQ is above average he is an All-Star waiting to happen. The guy was the #8th player taken in the draft last season. His potential talent level is definitely NBA starter quality. He's still catching up to the NBA, but he asserted himself very well as a Rocket last season. GM's want him because of the flashes of talent he showed last season. As a fan, I want to see him develop as a Houston Rocket. But I also want the Rockets to win now. With Martin, Battier, Yao, Brooks, Scola being a seasoned group, is Hills flashes of talent condusive to an NBA title run next season?
Anyone that went on the Knicks forums knows that it is not just Rocket fans that are thrilled with him...
This, and This. This is an excellent point. Too many picks turn out to be flops, even fairly high ones. Hill has already shown that he is probably not a flop.
Two pages and only one post that is directly responsive to the question I posed. Crap - only one identification of a report indicating potential drool factor. This tells me that we're speculating as to how valuable hill is, which is a fine exercise. I'd just feel a little better if there were known reports or comments lending credence to the speculation.
Why do you need credence to see that Hill is valuable? Can't you see that for yourself? The dude is young, has legit height, really good hops, a working jumpshot and some shot blocking ability. As for the "drooling bit" the only team that I know that is really high on Hill is the Raptors. If only one GM is drooling after him then maybe you overexaggerated the hype on Hill, and nobody is really drooling over getting him.
I don't know. How often do you see reports in the media that GMs drool over a player other than those big free agents?
Agreed. There's nothing to lose on this guy, more upside than down. Are other teams gonna throw big bucks at him? No. But he makes a good asset, that any GM wanting to build a solid team should look at. If you ask me another typical Morey guy, undervalued with a tremendous upside.
Honestly, Hill has already displayed two skills you can't teach. Mid range shooting and a knack for getting rebounds. If he can develop an offense like Landry did, I don't see why he can't be better than Bosh.
Drooling is a bit excessive, but it's not hard to see why others teams would want him. He is a good rebounder and finisher right now. He's still raw and has the potential to become a top tier PF. His per 36 min in Houston 14.2 PPG 11.0 RPG 1.2 BPG 54% FG
Well to answer your outright question, I don't think anyone has come outright and said "I have to have Hill!". This would be akin to showing your hand in poker I think. But there may be rumblings by way of rumor that have trickled down. The reason why he may have become so hot a commodity outside of some of the obvious reasons mentioned here is simple: Daryl Morey. If DM went out of his way to ensure he was included in the deal he made at deadline last year, other GM's are likely thinking: "If DM had to have him, he has to be had!!!"
