Indiana Wildcats – Former Arizona Teammates Back Together Again in the NBA

The NBA Free Agency can get a bit crazy. For former Arizona Wildcats Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger, this year’s free agency brought them back together. This time in Indiana with fellow Wildcat Solomon Hill.

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This year’s NBA free agency was a bit…let’s just say…crazy. Deandre’ Jordan’s circus act with the Mavericks and Clippers became front and center for the NBA. But two moves that happened were hidden behind all of the craziness.

The Indiana Pacers brought two former Wildcats teammates Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger back together again. In fact, this is the second time in the NBA that the two teammates will play together. They were last together when they played for the Houston Rockets in 2011. Four years later and their journey has crossed paths yet again, this time in Indiana.

Oct 31, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Jordan Hill (27) scores over Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 118-111. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Hill has been very productive the past couple of years with the Lakers. The former first round New York Knicks No. 8 pick has made a living being the muscle on the block, despite being a bit undersized.

With his hustle, rebounding, and improved jump shot, Hill had a lot of people calling once it was made known the Lakers weren’t picking up his $9 million option. The Pacers came out of nowhere to bring in Hill. But with the departure of Roy Hibbert to the Lakers ironically, they didn’t waste any time in signing Hill.

This past season was Hill’s best season in his 6 years in the league. He averaged 12 ppg, 7.9 rbg, and 1.5 apg. His numbers won’t scream out to you, but he definitely makes an impact on both sides of the floor, something Indiana was missing with Hibbert.

Chase Budinger has been relatively quiet compared to what Hill has been able to do. Mostly this is due to injuries, as well as suffering from a log jam at his position. With Minnesota and Houston, each team brought in several players that play the Small Forward position. As injuries continued to plague his career, it was only a matter of time before a player passed him up on the depth chart.

Mar 27, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Chase Budinger (10) shoots against Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) in the second half at Toyota Center. Rockets won 120 to 110. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

This is a time for Budinger to look for a resurgence in his career. The top of the SF position is

already filled by Paul George, as it should. Another former Wildcat, Solomon Hill, is second in line. So coming in new to the team, he already faces a tough fight for playing time.

As last season showed, with Paul George getting hurt, having more than just two options at SF is a must for the Pacers. With the kind of basketball Indiana runs, this seems to be a great fit for Budinger.

The addition of Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger is just the first step in the Pacers goal of being contenders again in the Eastern Conference. Jordan Hill figures to make an immediate impact. There is no telling how much of an impact, if any, Budinger will have on the team. But this is a new team, new system, new faces, with a couple familiar ones as well.

One thing is for certain. If the Indiana Pacers keep adding former Wildcats to their roster, they should look at changing their name to the Indiana Wildcats. Just a thought…

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