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The Sacramento Kings have made a big free agency splash, signing free agent point guard George Hill to a three-year contract worth approximately $57 million, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical. Hill checks several needs for Sacramento, making this a major signing for the franchise.
Hill was one of the most sought-after free agents of the summer, a true three-and-D lead guard that gives the Kings some much-needed backcourt help. Sacramento will have a chance to use Hill as a veteran mentor while they develop De’Aaron Fox.
Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka have been clear that they have no intention of racking up their future salary situation, and landing Hill despite that restriction would have been about good as it gets for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers reportedly met with Hill to discuss the possibility of signing a one-year contract, but the Kings had a lucrative three-year deal on the table that was too good to pass up.
The Lakers wound up coming close — how close remains unclear — to one of the coveted players in free agency, but not quite. It’s a big-time signing that should pay off in a big way for Sacramento next season, using him in a role the Lakers had envisioned alongside Lonzo Ball.