Hill signing boosts Lakers bench

Jordan Hill averaged six rebounds in the 2012 NBA playoffs for the Lakers. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Jordan Hill has decided to stay in Los Angeles. The 6-foot-9 forward recently reached a two-year agreement (worth $8 million) to stay with the Lakers despite being seriously recruited by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Hill was acquired by the Lakers in the trade that sent a first-round pick and Derek Fisher to the Rockets last season. He averaged 4.7 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game in just seven games with the Lakers. But, that was mainly due to head coach Mike Brown’s reluctance in expanding his role and giving him more minutes.

Hill averaged 6.3 rebounds in just 18 minutes per game in the playoffs, but he gave the Lakers a solid big man off the bench that could play power forward and center. His hustle and energy was often infectious as the Lakers’ second unit played better when he came in the game.

In 2009, he was the eighth overall pick in the draft and selected by the New York Knicks. He was traded to the Houston Rockets along with Jared Jeffries in a three-way team deal with Sacramento that sent Tracy McGrady to New York.

Darren Jacks is a regular contributor to OneManFastBreak.net. Send him an email at djroxalot@hotmail.com.