Milwaukee Bucks: Grades for George Hill’s three-year, $29 million deal

DETROIT, MI – APRIL 20: Sterling Brown #23 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of Game Three of the first round of the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on April 20, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

Value

Coming off the richest contract of his career, which he originally signed with the Sacramento Kings back in the summer of 2017, Hill’s reported deal of three years, $29 million is quite the pay decrease obviously.

Even so, the yearly value Hill will receive on his next reported deal will be the second-highest salary the IUPUI alum has commanded over the course of his 11-year career.

Some Bucks fans may hold reservations about paying such a near-eight digit yearly figure in what will go into the latter half and eventual twilight of Hill’s professional career. However, the partial guarantee that Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported is tagged on the final year of Hill’s deal is a nice piece of business on the Bucks’ part, specifically general manager Jon Horst.

Per source, George Hill's 3-year, $29 million deal has a partial guarantee for the third year.
— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) July 1, 2019

Now compared to the other deals fellow backup guards struck with teams around the league on the opening day of free agency and beyond, Hill’s reported contract looks to be a bit of a bargain, even with him well into his 30’s by now.

For example, the Sacramento Kings reportedly locked down Cory Joseph to a three-year, $37 million deal and the Detroit Pistons agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal with former MVP Derrick Rose. Even some of the reported deals handed out to likely starting point guards such as Terry Rozier (Charlotte Hornets) and Ricky Rubio (Phoenix Suns) show just the ceiling to Hill’s potential market had he stayed out there longer.

But in the end, the Bucks get their man back at a very reasonable number and length for both sides.