Milwaukee Bucks: Initial thoughts on the surprise George Hill signing

After much uncertainty at the position, the Milwaukee Bucks finally landed their new backup point guard, and he is a familiar face.

First reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, long-time veteran George Hill will soon sign with the Bucks after he clears waivers in the coming days. Hill had a partial guarantee on his deal next season, and it appears that the Philadelphia 76ers were looking to go in a direction that did not include the guard, paving the way for him to sign with a team he knows quite well.

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This will be a reunion as Hill played with the Bucks in 106 regular season games and registered 25 postseason contests with the team from 2018-20, playing a key role in their ascension into contention over the previous two seasons.

While the financial species are yet to be revealed, it would come as a shock if this were anything higher than the veteran’s minimum, which makes this signing all the better.

With that being said, let us take a look at what this signing might mean for the Bucks heading into next season and as they look to fill out their roster.

How does George Hill fit in with the Milwaukee Bucks this time around in his second stint with the franchise?

First and foremost, this signing nearly solidifies the notion that Jeff Teague will be gone. After being brought aboard mid-season via the buyout market, Teague was hot or cold in his minutes on the floor when he was fortunate enough to see it. He entered unrestricted free agency following the season, and it appears that the Bucks have chosen Hill over Teague to run the backup floor general spot next season.

On impact, Hill is an immediate upgrade over Teague. Over the past two seasons spent with the Bucks, OKC Thunder, and Philadelphia 76ers, Hill has been solid while playing mostly a backup role by averaging 9.2 points while shooting 50.4 percent from the floor and 43.8 percent from behind the arc. While the veteran is not exactly the most outstanding playmaker, he is undoubtedly capable of handling the ball when called upon, and his scoring touch will help Milwaukee’s second unit tremendously.

The biggest bonus here for the Bucks is certainly Hill’s 3-point shooting, which is desirable for a team that enjoys spacing the floor as much as Milwaukee does. Fans will remember that Hill comfortably led the league in 3-point percentage during the 2019-20 season by shooting a whopping 46 percent, letting it fly with pure confidence all season. He thrived while playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and several faces still remaining on this roster, and he will reunite with them once again this coming season.

While his shooting certainly stole the show that season, one thing that flew under the radar was Hill’s defense with the Bucks. The guard had seemingly developed into an underrated defender, which proved to be a massive boost for the team’s rotation. Comparing that with Teague’s efforts on that side of the floor, the results are not relatively close. That is not a knock on Teague by any means, just more of a compliment to Hill.

All in all, this is a solid signing. Hill will give the Bucks quality minutes when starting point guard Jrue Holiday needs a well-deserved breather, providing quality offense and defense. Already having familiarity with the players, coaching staff, and everyone else involved with the franchise, this should be a quick adjustment for the 35-year-old.