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Where are they now? Checking in on a few recent Indiana Pacers departures

By Ben Gibson

AUBURN HILLS, MI - JANUARY 03: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates after a second half basket with Jeff Teague #44 and Monta Ellis #11 while playing the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills on January 3, 2017 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Indiana won the game 121-116. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI - JANUARY 03: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates after a second half basket with Jeff Teague #44 and Monta Ellis #11 while playing the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills on January 3, 2017 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Indiana won the game 121-116. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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George Hill, formerly of the Indiana Pacers
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 11: George Hill #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on in the second half during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

George Hill — Cleveland Cavaliers

It’s hard to know how George Hill would play if he were still with the Pacers, but he is scoring less this season — or at least he was with the Sacramento Kings — than either Teague or Collison. It’s too early to know how he will fit in with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Collison’s passing fits perfectly with Oladipo, making him the best fit with Oladipo compared to Hill. It’s unfortunate that Hill isn’t with the Pacers anymore, but things worked all well for all parties now that he is plays for a contender.

It was a strange path that got him there, though.

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After being traded to the Utah Jazz in the deal for Jeff Teague, Hill had one of his best seasons in years, and maybe of his career. The 16.9 points a game were a career-high and a 40.3% mark from 3-point range led to his most efficient season on record as a scorer.

But he only played in 49 regular season games. Injuries kept Hill off the court nearly half the time in his season in Utah.

With Gordon Hayward’s departure from the team after the season, Hill elected to take the money and run to the Sacramento Kings, where he was miserable.

He didn’t play defense and limited himself to taking on 3-pointers for the most part as the malaise of the Kings made him a shell of his former self, scoring 10.2 points a game despite starting.

But then the King summoned him. Hill was traded to the Cleveland in a 3-team trade that involved way too many parts to track here. Hill already looks like a different player now that he is on a contender and once again he is proving he is a much better player than the average fan gives him credit for.

Next: Help Wanted: A Rebounder

For the former Pacers that are still in the NBA, the Pacers weren’t wrong to move on from them — whether they had a real choice in it or not — though most are still making an impact in the league.

But when you consider how many have washed out of the NBA in recent seasons, it’s hard to say Indiana made the right bets when they signed some of them.

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