Bucks trade for George Hill
Milwaukee sends guard Matthew Dellavedova and center John Henson to Cleveland.
Before hosting the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors, the Milwaukee Bucks engaged in a flurry of trades involving the Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards and a Wisconsin reunion that wasn’t.
First, the Bucks traded point guard Matthew Dellavedova and center John Henson along with their 2021 first- and second-round draft picks to the Cleveland Cavaliers for combo guard George Hill and Sheboygan native and former University of Wisconsin standout Sam Dekker.
Less than two hours after the initial trade reports, Dekker was rerouted to the Wizards, resulting in the
Bucks getting 7-foot veteran center Jason Smith and a 2021 second-round pick while the Wizards and Cavaliers swapped future picks.
The three-way trade became official – pending physicals – during Friday night’s game between the Bucks and Warriors.
According to ESPN, the first-round pick the Bucks send the Cavaliers comes with protections and is affected by Milwaukee’s Nov. 2017 trade with the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks owe a first-round pick to the Suns and due to NBA rules cannot trade first-round picks in backto-back years. As such, the Bucks will send a pick to the Cavaliers two years after their pick conveys to the Suns.
Per the terms of the deal with Phoenix, Milwaukee’s 2019 first-round pick is protected for pick Nos. 1-7 and 17-30. If it doesn’t convey, then the Bucks’ 2020 pick would go to the Suns as long as it doesn’t fall in pick Nos. 1-7. The pick due to Cleveland is lottery-protected (Nos. 114) in 2021 and is top-10 protected in 2022 with additional future protections if it has not conveyed by then.
Hill, 32, was the main acquisition for Milwaukee, as he will give the Bucks a formidable guard trio with Malcolm Brogdon and Eric Bledsoe this season. According to a report by The Athletic, Hill is expected to take his physical on Monday in Milwaukee.
More important than Hill’s ability to contribute this year, this deal provides Milwaukee with flexibility in the offseason because of the structure of his contract.
Hill, who has averaged 10.8 points and 2.8 assists per game this season and shot 46.4 percent from three-point range, is making $19 million this year, approximately equivalent to the combined salaries of Dellavedova and Henson. However, of the $18 million he is owed next season, only $1 million is guaranteed.
It’s Hill’s 2019-’20 contract structure that makes this deal work best for the Bucks since they can waive him by July 1 and only owe him that $1 million. That saves the team about $19 million compared to the 2019-’20 salaries of Dellavedova and Henson considering their base salaries and likely incentives amount to about $20 million.
Opening up salary-cap space is a huge issue for the Bucks, who face a summer in which four of their five starters are expected to become free agents. Khris Middleton will likely opt out of his $13 million contract for 2019-’20 in search of a contract that better reflects his value. Eric Bledsoe and Brook Lopez are in the final year of their deals and are due to hit unrestricted free agency in July. Malcolm Brogdon, in the final year of his rookie deal, will be a restricted free agent.
Henson was longest-tenured member of the Bucks, selected in the first round of the 2012 draft. He is out until at least spring due to left wrist surgery. Dellavedova came from Cleveland – where he won a title and was a fan favorite – in 2016.
Dekker, 24, has played in nine games this season, limited by a left ankle sprain. The 6-foot-9 power forward, who starred for the University of Wisconsin from 2012-’15, has averaged 5.3 points per game over three-plus seasons in the NBA, two in Houston and one with the Los Angeles Clippers before landing in Cleveland.
Dekker’s return to his home state was over before it started, though. With Washington’s inclusion in the deal, the Wizards inch closer to getting under the luxury-tax line. Milwaukee, meanwhile, gets a veteran backup center in Smith while butting up against – but staying under – the luxury tax. Smith’s 2018-’19 contract is worth about $5.5 million.
Smith, 32, a first-round pick in 2007, will join his sixth team. This season, he has appeared in just 12 games.