Friendly Debate: Rip Hamilton or Grant Hill?

he just flows perfectly with this offense. Grant Hill does not move well off the ball like Rip. Our ideal player was someone who can create his own shot, but Rip was the next best type of player this team needed.

Hill is a better defender than Rip and has a betetr three point shot, but he would be a redundant on this team. He doesnt have the same motility like he used to (obviously because of all those injuries).

for the offense to get work together. We’ve all seen what Rip can bring; if he’s good for when it counts, it’ll have been a helluva acquisition.

And it’s not even close. Even with his injury troubles, Rip has still outplayed Hill in nearly every way this year. Also, Rip is honestly the best fit for the system currently in place (with the exception of Ray Allen). The system is designed for someone who runs well off screens, can shoot well, and can make good passes coming off screens. Rip might be the best passer coming off screens currently in the NBA and that just makes him a great fit. Most of the SG/SF’s that are better passers than Rip are guys that play as a second PG or primary ball handler type of player (Monta Ellis, LeBron, Hedo, Delonte West, Pierce Iggy). Of course you don’t mind adjusting the system for a guy like Wade or Ellis who all don’t fit terribly well into the current system (because who cares, they are freakin awesome). But Hamilton is simply a better fit and producing better. Gotta be Hamilton.

with Hill, it’s a testament to how elite he was. The guy was one of the best players in the game with Detroit and lost so many years to injuries with Orlando it’s tough to gauge where he ranks. Still, most regular players can’t do what he’s doing at age 39. He’s overpaid, but is not yet trash.

Hamilton has looked great for the Bulls except in the game against Miami— which is a problem, because that team is the likeliest team to shut down Rip’s incessant cutting and solid passing. He’s old and unhealthy but if you can get a postseason out of him he makes a huge difference. A healthy Rip is better than a healthy Hill at this point, and we really need his cutting and energy on offense more than we need Hill’s mid-range jumpers.