The Utah Jazz is reportedly prioritizing the signing of point guard George Hill instead of their resident power forward Derrick Favors.
Hill, 30, was acquired by the Jazz via trade with the Indiana Pacers in July in a three-team deal with the Atlanta Hawks. He spent the last five seasons in Indiana after having a three-year stint with the San Antonio Spurs which starter in his rookie season.
He was a reliable starting point guard for the Pacers during the past five seasons and has provided the Jazz with the same production this season so far. He has been out for the last six games with a sprained thumb, but in seven games so far this season, Hill has averaged 20.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.0 steals in 33.9 minutes per game for Utah.
ESPN reported that Hill's excellent performance in his first seven games this season has "helped him emerge as a star in Utah", which made him a priority signing for the Jazz in midseason.
Another player who is eligible to be re-signed to a long-term deal this season is power forward Derrick Favors, who has been with the Jazz for six years since the middle of his rookie season in 2010-2011.
Last season, Favors averaged a career-best 16.4 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.2 steals with 8.1 rebounds in 32.0 minutes of playing time a night, which is why many are expecting the Jazz to keep him moving forward.
However, Utah is reportedly prioritizing Hill over Favors as the team has a bigger need at the point guard position with the emergence of talented 7-foot-1 center Rudy Gobert, according to Fansided.
The Jazz just re-signed Gobert to a four-year, $102 million contract extension at the end of last month and is expected to grant a new long-term deal to team leader Gordon Hayward at the end of the season, which leaves Hill and Favors in an unsure standing this season.
Hill's leadership, especially his guidance on young point guard Dante Exum, who is currently his main backup, is said to be one of the key factors why the Jazz prefers him over the younger Favors.
The report noted that Utah can "pay Hill an additional $13 million-plus on top of his salary for this season as part of the renegotiation-and-extension formula". Hill expressed his desire to stay with the Jazz for the long-term, but if a new deal is not reached, then he will become "one of the most highly coveted" free agent guards next summer.
