Grant Hill won't attempt comeback this year

[Andrew]

Newspaper: Hill's agent says no comeback this season

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill will not attempt a comeback this season, deciding to give his injured left ankle more time to heal with a goal toward returning to the court next season, his agent said.

Hill's agent, Lon Babby, told Florida Today on Monday that the five-time All-Star will continue rehabilitating and hopes to return when the Magic open training camp for the 2004-2005 season in October.

A message left with Babby's office Monday night was not immediately returned.

Hill had hoped to play in a few games at the end of the season, but examinations performed at Duke University last weekend showed the ankle hasn't completely healed.

"You weigh the benefit of playing a handful of games against the opportunity of just waiting until next year,'' Babby told the newspaper. "So why not just wait until next year, and then you have March, April, May, June, July and August and part of September? That's an additional six months of rehab and healing. To us, it's a no-brainer.''

Good decision. If only Hill had been a little more patient (or maybe had some more thorough tests) back in 2000...

[The Big Racist]

Seems like he won't never return to 100%,that's sure we won't see the "old" Grant Hill but if he returns he could be the guy who holds the team together like Darrel Armstrong used to.

[BiBi]

Best of luck to Grant Hill

kinna off topic but Grant Hill's salary is making it tough on the Magic to find a decent support cast for T-Mac. Personally I would like to see T-Mac start winning a bit so if Hill doesn't come back (I hope he does) or reach a buyout then I kinna hope McGrady would get traded to a winning team.

[VCFAN]

its good he is sitting cause Its not like he will be able to bring orlando into the playoff picture because they are so far behind.

Orlando can be an extremely dominating team next year if they get a very high draft pick which they most likely will, and grant hill can put up hopefully 16ppg, 6 reb, 6 assists next year and doesn't reinjure himself. If T-Mac goes back to how he did last year look for them to be a strong threat in the playoffs next year.

[Mikki]

its good he is sitting cause Its not like he will be able to bring orlando into the playoff picture because they are so far behind.

yes, just like Jerry Stackhouse did at DC...

Orlando Magic is a promising team with young guys like Drew Gooden, Stevenson, T-Mac... They'll be back in the playoffs in no time, they only had a bad start 1-21

[Ruff Ryder]

He should retire or the Magic should cut him until he's healthy.

[Andrew]

He should retire or the Magic should cut him until he's healthy.

His salary would still count against the cap though. The only advantage would be that the Magic would be able to sign another player. They could have done that this season had the NBA granted them an injury exception, but somehow they didn't qualify.

If Grant can come back and play around 30 minutes per game on a regular basis, he should be able to put up numbers similar to last year or the year before. He wouldn't be worth the amount of money the Magic are shelling out for him, but he would be making a worthwhile contribution.

[Nel]

Just want to ask you guys. If grant ill decides to retire in the off-season, doest it mean that the contract he has would come off the salary cap?? It's punishing the magic for 4 seasons and i hope his salary could come-off the cap. I for sure don't want to see mcgrady leave orlando but with the way the management handling the situation it makes him think otherwise and leave...

[Andrew]

I think it would continue to count against the cap unless they negotiate a buyout. If I was an Orlando fan, I'd be hoping Hill bounced back so that the Magic could utilise him as T-Mac's sidekick or by somehow trading him for a player they're interested in.

[air gordon]

magic wanted to declare hill out for the year, which would have given them that injury exception. but grant was against this since he wanted to try and comeback by this season's end

[Andrew]

That's right. I thought that happened after NBA doctors declared the Magic were ineligible for an injury exception though?