Solomon Hill

Solomon Hill
SF, 6’7, 225lbs, 26 years old, 4 years of experience

In the first season of his enormous deal, Hill was bad offensively and average defensively. A player who made his name as a little-things type – tertiary ball handler, occasional driver, decent team defender – was now being called upon for bigger things. And he hasn’t got them. He wasn’t even as good as a big minute low output starter as he had been as a sophomore with Indiana two years ago. The unpleasant reality is that Hill is being paid like an average to slightly above average starter, but he isn’t that, and nor is he likely to be in the three years remaining on his deal. It is a bad contract.

Player Plan: Three years and circa. $36.76 million remaining, with no options. Listed under “trade chips” more in hope than expectation. Hill is probably untradeable now, slightly tradeable as filler in a year’s time, and more tradeable in two year’s time as an acceptable cost-saving dump. Until then, however, he is a big contract on a team with a budget, who might prove to be an obstacle when Cousins needs re-upping.

Solomon Hill - Hill's rookie year wasn't great. Per 36 minutes, he averaged only 7.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, shooting 42.5% from the field and 30.8% from three for a 7.6 PER. Some of his main virtues include his IQ high play, his unselfishness, his recognition of his limitations and his discipline to play within them. But he's not going to survive if he's THAT passive. Improving the catch and shoot jumper will stand him in great stead, as long as he's willing to take them.

Solomon Hill

Hill was a surprise first round pick, but not a bad one. Give Damien Wilkins a spin move and you're in the right area. (And early career Damien Wilkins was pretty good.) Hill never dominates games - he can't dominate games. But he compliments those that does. He gets a few of his own in transition, off the dribble and with a much improved jumper, he boards, he defends well enough, and he's a solid passer. He's the little things guy that you don't necessarily want your team to "settle" for in the late first round, but whom you'll soon come to understand why they did. I further don't believe concerns about his ability to play small forward at the next level are legitimate. Hill will be fine - he's too smart and skilled not to be.

The wing spot is largely held down by Solomon Hill and Kevin Parrom. Both are arguably tweener forwards, but both have good size and athleticism for the wings, as well as some versatility. Hill can double as a secondary ball handler, and adds a mid-range game, very good athleticism, dribble-drives, spin moves, dunks, and some highly capable defense. Similarly, Parrom also does a bit of everything, especially now he's added a highly efficient three point shot to go along with his mid range game. He drives the ball, shoots the ball, rebounds the ball, moves the ball, can pass the ball, is athletic, will run the court, and is a versatile, interested defender. His biggest weakness may only be inconsistency; the same criticism could be levelled at Hill, however, who tends to be a little game player. And Parrom might even be a better player than Hill at this point. Yet somehow he can't crack 20mpg. It seems strange.