Lakers Rumors: Team Unlikely To Pick Up Jordan Hill’s Option
By Alex Torres
The Lakers need to win big in free agency this off-season. We all know the trouble they had attracting free agents these last couple of years and that needs to change this Summer.
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Cap space is not a problem for the Lakers, so they are hopeful that they can sign a few nice pieces for next season. Before they enter free agency in July, the Lakers have to make a decision on Jordan Hill, who has a $9 million team option for next season.
Hill has really improved his game these last few years, but the Lakers are not completely sold on the big man from Arizona. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, it’s unlikely that the Lakers exercise the option on Hill:
"As the Los Angeles Lakers maneuver to free $24 million-plus of salary cap space for summer free agency, the franchise is unlikely to exercise the option on forward Jordan Hill’s contract for the 2015-16 season, league sources told Yahoo Sports.The Lakers are not obligated to make a final determination on the $9 million owed on Hill’s contract before June 30, but momentum is strong that they’ll allow Hill to enter into free agency, league sources told Yahoo Sports"
Last season the Lakers struck out in free agency, so they spent their money on Hill and Nick Young. That is not what the fan base was expecting and Mitch Kupchak received a lot of criticism. Now, the Lakers are looking to add more to the salary cap so they can have more to offer to free agents.
This move isn’t very surprising, Hill was rumored to be traded this past season, but the Lakers never pulled the trigger. The Lakers could end up signing Hill again if they have trouble luring players to Los Angeles once again. Let’s hope that’s not the case.