In what was an anticipated move ahead of the start of free agency, the Milwaukee Bucks will waive veteran guard George Hill to make him an unrestricted free agent.
The moves keep on coming and coming for the Milwaukee Bucks as they prepare for the start of this year’s free agency period.
First reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic Friday afernoon, the Bucks will be waiving veteran guard George Hill to make him an unrestricted free agent.
Milwaukee guard George Hill will be waived and become a free agent, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Hill had a terrific finish to the season and will be a sought-after combo guard on the market. Bucks are working to find space to re-sign Hill, too.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 28, 2019
Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel confirmed the news some minutes later.
Can confirm Bucks plan to waive George Hill. Hasn’t happened yet, but they aren’t going to go into next season with his $18 million on the books. If waived before July 1, he is only owed $1 million next season.
— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) June 28, 2019
As has been well covered here at BTBP and elsewhere around the Bucks blogosphere, Hill’s guarantee date on his current contract was July 1, which would have minted the $18 million he would have been owed under that structure.
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Of course, with the Bucks’ many free agency concerns at the moment, it was very expected that the team would waive the 33-year-old ahead of his salary becoming guaranteed to open as much as cap room as they can to retain more significant pieces.
By doing so, though, Hill is now free to negotiate with other teams and find a suitor that would be willing to give him more money than the Bucks will be available to offer.
That doesn’t mean the door is completely shut on Hill extending his stay in Milwaukee and we already heard earlier Friday from ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst, who both reported that both parties have interest in working on a new deal:
"“Meanwhile, the Bucks have not totally closed the door on George Hill, sources said. With just $1 million of his $19 million contract guaranteed, Hill will be waived by the Bucks. But the two sides have an interest in working something out to have Hill return. He could be an option if Brogdon gets an offer elsewhere that the Bucks don’t match.”"
What the Bucks can’t offer Hill in more financial stability, they certainly can offer him a valuable role to help him achieve his championship aspirations as we saw over the course of this season upon his arrival from the Cleveland Cavaliers and into the team’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
With Hill hitting the open market, the backup point guard spot will be critical for the Bucks to address in free agency, in the event that Hill lands elsewhere on cushy new deal.
Like so much of the latest buzz surrounding the Bucks ahead of free agency, we’ll have you covered on their potential pursuit to re-sign Hill and/or their contingency plans for their point guard depth this offseason.