Jordan Hill

Hill was a modest bright spot last year on the train-wreck known as the Los Angeles Lakers. He enjoyed career highs of 12.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 27 minutes per game while losing 61 games in LA. This year, he joins a Pacers team with more scoring options but a similar desperate need for effective big man play. The departures of Roy Hibbert and David West leave a huge void in Indiana's low post. Enter Hill and career backup Ian Mahinmi. Both players could experience back-to-back years of career highs in minutes played per game -- not a good sign for Indiana, but a possible boon for fantasy owners. Hill's biggest threat for playing time will probably be from rookie Myles Turner, the 19-year-old seven footer and 11th pick in this summer's draft. The only other frontcourt players fighting for time are Lavoy Allen, Mahinmi, and bench fodder Shayne Whittington and Rakeem Christmas. If Hill can stay healthy, expect a repeat of last year's numbers, which also included a modest 0.7 blocks per game.

Jordan Hill re-signed with the Lakers this offseason, signing a two-year, $18 million deal in July, with the second year being a team option. Last season, Hill had a semi-breakout campaign, averaging 9.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 21 minutes per game through 72 games. He shot 55 percent from the field on 7.2 attempts and 69 percent from the line on 2.5 attempts. All of those numbers were career bests, with the exception of free throw percentage. In his fifth NBA season, Hill also managed to stay healthy for the first time since 2010-11. The 72 games he played, exceeded the 68 games he played combined over the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. New coach Byron Scott has said he will be starting Hill at center this season, and without Pau Gasol and Chris Kaman, Hill should see an uptick in his minutes. In April last season, Hill notched five double doubles over the eight games he played while playing 29 minutes per game. If Hill gets those sort of minutes in his sixth season, he'll be a popular fantasy sleeper in drafts. His fantasy strengths reside in rebounds, blocks, and field-goal percentage, and if your league counts double-doubles, he could also be a nice contributor there as well.

Hill is returning from serious-injury, but has come back with a bang, looking spry and energetic. Though the story of Hill's career is one marred by annual big injuries (it has been five full seasons since Hill played more than 39 games in a season), Hill could be in for a bounce-back year if he can play in the regular season the way he has in workouts and exhibitions. When Hill did play, he posted career highs in rebounds per game, offensive rebounds per game, and minutes per game. Staying healthy is a major issue, but if he does, playing alongside Steve Nash under Mike D'Antoni for a full season could allow Hill to post some new career-highs. Unfortunately, conventional wisdom would predict that Hill might be headed for the injured-reserve again.

Hill is the Lakers’ only legitimate backup post presence, and he stands to see plenty of minutes if Howard is not ready for the start of the season. Hill thrived in the playoffs last season, averaging 6.3 boards in 18 minutes off the bench, so the coaching staff won’t hesitate to give him some significant run to spell the team’s two All-Star big men.

At 6-10, 235 and with good athleticism, Hill's capable of handling the center position, though he's probably a more natural power forward. Hill's not a polished player at this point, but he's a decent free-throw shooter for a big man, he can score and rebound, and he might get the first crack at the starting job if he can hold his own defensively. There's also a chance the Rockets could sign a veteran big man, especially if Hill is inadequate defensively.

After coming over from the Knicks midseason, Hill showed occasional flashes in limited action, and his role could grow this season if he can hold off rookie Patrick Patterson for minutes backing up Luis Scola at the four.

The eighth overall selection in the 2009 draft, Hill is an energetic-but-raw big man. The Knicks are hoping he'll develop into a poor man's Amar'e Stoudemire. In the short term, it's hard to imagine Hill getting significant minutes, but a trade could open things up during the year.