Rumor: Orlando Magic Interested in Acquiring Grant Hill
by Evan Dunlap on Dec 16, 2008 4:18 AM EST
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PrintI usually hate posting things this late, but this one is too big to ignore. Don't forget to read the recap of the Magic's 109-98 victory over Golden State earlier this evening. Onto it...
Brian Schmitz, who insists his sources are "impeccable", reports the Orlando Magic are interested in acquiring Grant Hill from the Phoenix Suns:
A little more than a year after parting ways, the Magic and Grant Hill would be interested in getting back together.
[....]
Hill, who has one home in Orlando and is renovating another, would embrace a reunion despite feeling the Magic didn't try to keep him after his star-crossed seven-year career ended in 2007. He signed a two-year contract with the Phoenix Suns.
Schmitz says likely bait for Hill would be J.J. Redick. So the Magic would trade a young, fan-favorite player who is historically a fantastic three-point shooter--a must-have skill for shooting guards in Stan Van Gundy's offense--and receive an old, fan-reviled player who doesn't shoot three-pointers well? What? How does this make any sense? Follow the jump for the counterpoint in this mini-argument.
The upshot, says Schmitz, is that Hill's defense and savvy--valuable assets come playoff time--would bolster a reserve unit largely bereft of veterans.
I gather the reaction in Orlando to this purely hypothetical trade--although it sounds like the Magic do want Hill--would be strongly negative, given Hill's injury-riddled seven years with the team. I also don't know that Hill is a huge upgrade over Redick. Yes, he defends, and yes, he's smart, but he's also 36-years-old and joins a crowded shooting-guard rotation that will include Mickael Pietrus, Keith Bogans, and Courtney Lee. Maybe he could spell Hedo Turkoglu at small forward, but it seems to me the Magic have more pressing needs at power forward and at point guard. Come to think of it, shouldn't shooting guard be last on Magic GM Otis Smith's list of positions to upgrade? Puzzling.
No matter what you think about the rumor, it's at least... interesting... that the Magic feel ready to make a deal, especially one for a veteran near retirement. It's the sort of roster tweak that teams that believe they're on the cusp of title-contention make to shore-up their rosters. Hmm.
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Confusing...
I always liked Hill…even in Detroit.
Gotta think that he would be an upgrade over JJ.
Lets face it, if JJ can’t get on the court, he isn’t an asset at all. We’d be getting something for nothing. I’d imagine if Hill came back and contributed to a championship, his time at the Suns would be largely forgotten by bitter fans, and it would be a great way for him to repay the Gazillion dollars we paid him during his first stint here….
Plus his contract expires at season's end.
This would be two fold:
1. He could retire a Magic.
This would go a long way if he truly wants to move up in the organization (eventually the co-owner). He spent most of his career here anyway. This could also give the fans some closure on his career here. It ended with him walking once he got healthy. We could finally see him play healthy and for the low-low.
2. Cap relief.
With J.J. seemingly useless on the court and his trade value quickly plummitting, we could rent a better all around player for the next four months while saving a few $$ at season’s end if we were to try and resign Turk. Besides even if J.J. does figure it out, he will be playing in the West where it won’t affect us as much as if he were to end up in the East. And I still think he will figure it out, but those two free throws he missed last night shows that his confience is truly shot. Even when he started he sucked. A fresh start for him would be with a whole new team
Kerr really isn't that dumb
I know we have a Steve Kerr Moron Meter and all but there’s no way he’s dumb enough to move Hill for JJ.
The LAST thing the Suns need is another 2 guard. Hill is a SERIOUSLY important part of what the Suns are doing. If he’s moved then it would be for REAL value but Hill is making peanuts so there’s really no way to make that happen unless its part of a much larger deal that combines a future start still on a rookie contract.
JJ isn’t that guy. He’s a future a no body. At best he’s Jason Kapono or Kyle Korver and again, the Suns have no need for that.
Blogging Suns Basketball
NO!!!! No way!
Didn’t Smith just get burned with the Ariza for Mo/Cook trade? Ariza is burning it up in LA, Mo is gone and Cook just started playing significant minutes this season last week.
by DieSlowKeyshawn on Dec 16, 2008 12:45 PM EST reply actions
If it happens
let it happen before Saturday, I want to be there so I can boo him in his first game. WE DON’T NEED HILL!!!!
Otis, get us a freakin point guard!
Yes from me
It makes sense to make your bench as deep as possible. JJ will not fit here, plain and simple. Hill gets another chance to patch things up here and we get SOMETHING out of him. I like it, do it Smith, do it.
For JJ? Sure.
'Coach, Dwight is a nice guy. Dwight don't hit anybody. But Superman will knock the crap out of you.' - D12
On the one hand, I do think that Hill would be an upgrade over JJ.
On the other hand, if there is indeed a market for JJ, I would rather see him moved for some help at PF or PG. Bottom line, if this is the only offer out there for JJ – and the organization feels they can no longer do something with him – than sure, it’s a good deal. But if it is possible to move JJ to fill a need, that would be a far better trade.
That's a lot how I feel
Hill would probably play here, at least more than J.J. does, but it seems like the Magic should try to address other needs before acquiring another backup wing player.
by Evan Dunlap on Dec 16, 2008 10:24 PM EST up reply actions
Something to consider from the Suns' perspective: they need a PG
Goran Dragic is Steve Nash’s backuip, and there’s no one behind him since they traded Sean Singletary to the Bobcats last week. Leandro Barbosa has a PG’s height, but not the corresponding skill set, so he’s not much of an option. Both Hill and Matt Barnes, although natural swingmen, can bring the ball up a little bit. I imagine the Suns would be loathe to part with Hill, given their void at point guard.
(The Basketball Jones discussed the Suns’ PG situation on this morning’s video podcast, which is what made me mention it as it pertains to this trade discussion)
Pro's/Con's
… I don’t mind adding an additional veteran presence on the court and in the locker room. I think Hill’s presence would be beneficial to Lee’s development and I think he can provide plenty of savvy/experience come playoff time.
Additionally, he has an expiring contract (roughly $2 Mill.) … I doubt the Magic will go about re-signing him after the year is over, thus making that money available to accommodate re-signing Hedo. Having Redick’s contract on the books until next year binds us a bit financially, considering the fact we pretty much don’t need him at this point.
So in that case, I like the move … but I’m just wary of Hill’s age (36) and the fact that we don’t address a need with his move. With that said, I think the pro’s outweigh the con’s.
Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
all we give up is j.j.?
shiiiiiit…. as this point i will take anything for j.j., including grant hill. yeah he is 36 but he still has legs (the injuries remember). he also is playing for the dysfunctional suns, and they are making everyone look bad.
bottom line : j.j. is officially not an nba player and it is time to get any sort of value for him.
This just in...
JJ has just been traded for two packs of skittles, a pop tart and a six pack of tube socks from Walmart. Those suckers can’t negotiate. I would have settled for the just skittles.
Once again
NO No No.
I’m not going to put the last ten years behind me just cause he could help us until June. I’m a very spiteful person.
So?
What’s your point? If we, a small group of Magic fans, have such a strong negative reaction to the possibility, what do you think it’ll be like in the general population if that rumor came true? We still boo the hell out of Shaq, McGrady, and Grant when they come to play in the Arena. Just because Grant might suddenly be a player for us again doesn’t negate the fact that fans felt pissed off and betrayed by his actions in 2007. Is it rational? Hell no, but it is what it is. If Magic management suddenly brought Grant back, I highly doubt the fans will welcome him with open arms.
by TheGiantSquid on Dec 18, 2008 10:20 AM EST up reply actions
My answer is based completly on emotion
Never forget.
by magic fanatic on Dec 18, 2008 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
My point is simply this-
Take the emotion and anger away from the situation for 2 minutes. pretend he never played here, never walked out.
Then ask yourself- a 13yr vet with salary cap relief and a spotty health record (and i do say spotty very generously) currently averaging 9ppg, 5rpg and 2ast in 26 mpg
for
An 2yr player with low confidence and poor defense, currently averaging 4ppg, 2rpg, 1ast in almost 18 mpg.
with all the emotion out of it, as a business deal, in black and white….if you are Otis, for the success of the team, do you make the trade?
I think Grant Hill would be an excellent acquisition. I think this offense is perfect for him. It gives him the freedom to create for both himself and others.
Good veteran playmaker in the second unit? That’s nice. He can help the backup point guard out. He rebounds at a solid level. Good scorer still. Great composure and decision making.
I think he’d be an excellent acquisition. I’d do that deal in a heart beat.
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