Mar 28, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Solomon Hill (44) dunks against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second half of the semifinals of the West regional of the 2013 NCAA tournament at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Solomon Hill

6’7″, 226 lbs., Small Forward, Senior, University of Arizona, 22 years old

2012-13 Stats

13.4 points, 45.8% field goal, 39% three point, 76.6% free throw, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists

Strengths

Solomon Hill is a very interesting prospect. He doesn’t particularly have a strength, but in the same regard, he doesn’t particularly have a weakness. At 6’7, Hill will likely be seen as a small forward in the NBA, despite spending lots of time in the paint while at Arizona. Despite that, he did focus on his perimeter shooting. His 3-point shooting improved from 22.2% his freshman year to a far more respectable 39% last season. His versatility should transfer well into the NBA. Hill’s ability to grab a rebound and then push the pace will make him highly attractive to teams.

Hill has deceptive explosion and ability to attack the rim. He lost some weight going into his senior season and, as a result, become a quicker, more explosive perimeter player. His pure size and strength will make him stick out to scouts. Hill has a moderate 6’9 wingspan, but still possesses a 37.5″ vertical and benched 185 pounds 14 times. His 10.77 agility time ranked relatively high on the list of scouts who participated in the combine.

Weaknesses

Well, Hill doesn’t have any particular strength, just like I said. If you think his shooting is his best strength, then it can be pointed out how bad he was prior to last year. If you think he’s explosive, then you can point to the fact that he has played on the perimeter only one year. He’s a good rebounder? Well he’s a 6’7 tweener who will be undersized as a four, yet may lack the ability to be a solid perimeter offensive threat.

It’s also unsure whether Hill could keep up with bigger, quicker, stronger, and faster forwards in the league. Physically, he has the build of a power forward in a small forward’s body. Making the transition is something NBA teams are going to have to help him along with.

Where he fits on the Lakers

The Lakers were without a true small forward threat to back up Metta World Peace. Both Kobe Bryant and Earl Clark split time as the back-up, but it clearly took a toll on Bryant’s body, and Clark wasn’t effective in long stretches. Hill could step in and alleviate some of the minutes forced on Kobe last year. Hill would have a defined role on the Lakers and one that he could excel in. He wouldn’t be asked to do too much on a talented squad.

Our Take

Jacob Rude – Hill might be my favorite prospect yet. One of the Lakers’ biggest weaknesses was the lack of depth at the small forward position last season. Hill has a similar build and play-style to MWP offensively that he could improve upon. If Hill is available when the Lakers are on the clock, I say they take him over anyone else.

Caleb Cottrell – The Lakers desperately need some athleticism and outside shooting. If Hill can shoot 37 percent from three, and play some defense, he could be exactly what the Lakers want with their pick.  As I said in my DeShaun Thomas draft profile, I think he could come in and play some minutes off the bench right away. I’m in.

But it’s simply because these guys were apart of title-winning teams that fans hold them higher up. It’s not because they were some of the best players of their generations. Fans look at these guys in a different light because they are Lakers through and through, never leaving the franchise, never playing elsewhere.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played as important of a role in the Showtime Lakers as Worthy or Magic, yet he isn’t as begotten as those two. The Lakers don’t win a title in the early 70s without Wilt Chamberlain, yet he’s an after-thought to West and Baylor. Bryant has transcended a generation, bridging the gap between Shaquille O’Neal and Pau Gasol, winning titles with both big men.

Current fans maintain a special connection with Bryant. We’ve witnessed him grow from an immature teenager into a a seasoned, savvy veteran. Magic went from the overly energetic youngster to clutch champion in one season. But his energetic personality made him the beloved child of Los Angeles. Even after his retirement, Magic is considered “one of us” to the city of LA.

For West and Baylor, Lakers fans suffered with them. Years and years of emotional losses to the Celtics in the Finals were finally revenged when they won the title in 1972 over the Knicks. Fans were relived and ecstatic to celebrate with West to get his title. And although Baylor retired at the beginning of the season, he was still given a ring for his involvement.

This isn’t to say the Lakers don’t love their other stars. Shaq played for six teams in his career, yet his jersey was retired this past season. Wilt Chamberlain five years in LA, but his jersey hangs in the rafters. Even Gasol has spent just five and a half years in the purple and gold, but he has a case for his name hanging alongside the greats as well.

But none of these players have the same kind of connection with the fans that Magic, Kobe, and company still maintain to this day. Unfortunately for the Lakers, no current player outside of Kobe nor is there anyone who potentially might. With the Lakers focused more on buying players than developing them in recent years, those type of connections may become a distant thought in the forthcoming future.

But you can guarantee that no matter who the current roster consists of, West, Baylor, Magic, Worthy, and Kobe will always be considered one of the guys.