Pacers' Solomon Hill ready in spite of trade rumors

Candace Buckner | IndyStar

In the middle of the Indiana Pacers locker room Tuesday night, Solomon Hill pulled up a chair and blocked out distractions. Monta Ellis walked in, his strut and loud jokes inciting laughter from teammates, but Hill stayed glued to the big screen.

It was before the Pacers’ biggest game yet of the 2015-16 season, a dance with the defending champion Golden State Warriors. The previous day Hill had learned how he would return to the rotation. So he struck a studious pose, similar to his pre-game routine of last season when Hill played as a starter for 78 games and caretaker of the team’s small forward position.

The Pacers lost to Golden State but Hill, who had logged only one minute in the previous four games, remained on the court through much of the final quarter. Hill played a season-high 21 minutes, finishing with six points and nine rebounds as well generating a plus-9 – one of two Pacers to produce a positive plus/minus number.

“At this point, I understand it’s a business,” said Hill, a third-year, 6-7 forward. “Instead of being frustrated and moping around, I take it as being that guy that brings some energy into the game.”

Though Hill could be seen scrutinizing Warriors’ footage before the game, it still was a shock to watch him enter the court late in the first quarter.

Since the Pacers declined to pick up Hill’s fourth-year option, he has seemed an afterthought to a team shifting toward an offensive mindset. There are plenty of wings on the roster – Paul George, Chase Budinger, Glenn Robinson III – and all play ahead of Hill, who could be described as a solid defender but only possessing a standard skill set on the offensive end. Though last season George’s leg injury bumped Hill into the starting lineup, he averaged just 7.7 shot attempts and shot 39.6 percent from the floor. So these days, Hill makes more highlights for his excited celebrations at the end of the bench.

But after swimming in a sea of DNPs and recently hearing his name as part of trade rumors, Hill played the best game of his season against the Warriors and showed his unique ability as a multitalented defender.

“He knows the fact that he’s not in the rotation to start the season does not mean his days are numbered here,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “We made that very clear that we’re going to give some other guys looks at that position to give us an offensive boost. We’re trying to improve on the offensive end this year and he’s got to stay ready. There are going to be times when he’s needed and he’s going to have an opportunity to get back into the rotation at some point.”

The Warriors presented that opportunity as Hill defended the beefy, 6-7 Draymond Green, who played some minutes at the five spot. Later, Hill often switched onto point guard Stephen Curry. Though Hill made it difficult, staying in front and raising a hand, Curry still sank his only jumper of the fourth quarter – a testament more to Curry’s wizardry as a shooter than Hill’s defense. Hill was more than just a body on the court to throw at Curry; in the fourth quarter, he grabbed 5 offensive rebounds and provided a spark as the Pacers outscored the Warriors, 40-20, to threaten a comeback

“Solo is probably the only guy on this team that has the energy that he has,” George said. “I think that’s what makes him unique and a piece that’s very huge for us that coach feels comfortable throwing in there. He always gives us spurts of energy. He’s always locked in to our defensive principles, and offensively he doesn’t make the wrong plays.”

Back on Nov. 27, Vogel dusted Hill off from the bench to play against a more traditional big team, the Chicago Bulls.

It’s this versatility, combined with his work ethic, that makes Hill one of Vogel’s favorite players. Case in point: Hours before his Tuesday night video session, Hill and a few other teammates moved to the practice gym after the morning shoot around for extra work.

“He’s maintained an excellent attitude,” Vogel said. “On the bench encouraging his teammates but also working here in practice and after practice harder than he ever has.”

On Dec. 15, the unofficial trade season begins as free agents who signed with teams over the summer will become eligible to be moved. The Pacers – once again, valuing offense over defense – have made Hill available for potential deals purely because he may not fit the ideal of how the team wants to shape the roster moving forward. Even so, Hill maintains a level head as his young career goes through highs and lows.

“Rumors will be rumors, and all I can do is control what (I can) when I’m out there,” Hill said. “Just making sure I’m prepared and, if coach calls my name, making sure I can go out there and help the team win. That’s all I can really worry about. I can control what I can control."

Follow Star reporter Candace Buckner on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.

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