The New Orleans Pelicans have had their fair share of issues this year as they are off to a 5-16 start to the season but one of the main problem areas, besides injuries, has been the small forward position. The healthy small forwards on the roster have not played very well for New Orleans so when it was reported that they might have interest in Indiana Pacers small forward Solomon Hill it didn't come as too much of a surprise. Now it is being reported that the Pelicans did nothing more than inquire about Hill's availability, according to John Reid of The Times Picayune.
Hill started 78 games for the Pacers a season ago but has fallen out of the rotation this season as they have gotten Paul George back healthy so they reportedly put him on the trading block. The Pelicans aren't the only team said to be interested in Hill but at this point there doesn't seem to be much traction in regards to Hill being traded anywhere.
It seems as though the Pacers put his name out there to see what kind of return they might be able to get for him and if they are unhappy with the offers they can just hold onto him. Hill is just 24 years old and was a first round pick a short two years ago so he could still possibly have a future in the league there just happens to be no room for him right now in the Pacers rotation.
The Pelicans, on the other hand, seem like a great fit for Hill as they have three healthy small forwards and none of them have played well. Quincy Pondexter has yet to play this season after undergoing offseason knee surgery and has no timetable for a return while Alvin Gentry is against playing Tyreke Evans at small forward. This has left Gentry with Luke Babbitt, Alonzo Gee and Dante Cunningham as his options and they are all having bad seasons.
If the Pacers aren't asking for too much for Hill, say a second round pick, then the Pelicans would be wise to jump all over that as it would be a low risk, high reward type of deal but as of right now it doesn't seem like that is their mindset. It is entirely possible that the Pacers asking price is relatively high for Hill though considering he is young, was a first round pick and started for them a year ago so we will have to wait and see just how serious they are about trading him.
