Barring a medical miracle -- and they haven't witnessed any yet -- the Orlando Magic said Wednesday that they expect Grant Hill to miss the 2003-04 NBA season.
The surest indication that the Magic are preparing for Hill to sit out the season: the club will seek salary-cap relief from the NBA by applying for the disabled player's exception.
The Magic have until Oct. 1 to apply for the medical exception, worth $4.8 million, but likely will make their request soon. They want to have the money available for this summer's free-agent recruiting period, which begins July 1.
Magic General Manager John Gabriel said Wednesday it was "likely" that Hill "will never play this coming season."
Gabriel said Hill, a former six-time all-star, has no intention to retire. Hill is recovering from his fourth -- and most extensive -- surgery, performed in mid-March on his troublesome left ankle.
Gabriel was reluctant to comment further, largely because no announcement from Hill has been made.
According to one team source, Hill apparently is not sold on the plan, despite several recent meetings between his doctors, the club's doctors and team officials. The Magic want Hill to rehab and rest the entire season, while Hill may be entertaining thoughts of returning later in the season.
Hill has avoided the media and did not return phone calls Wednesday. In fact, people in Hill's immediate circle have been tight-lipped on his progress since he underwent surgery on March 18. Neither Hill's doctor nor his agent, Lon Babby, returned calls.
Dr. James Nunley, who performed the operation on Hill, also did not respond to an e-mail sent to his office at Duke University Medical Center.
Nunley's only comments appeared on Hill's Web site after the surgery. Nunley said he "found no reason why Grant will not be able to play basketball again," but added, "there's no time-frame . . . when he will be able to return to play."
The chance of Hill being ready for the Magic's training camp in early October was a long shot at best. Nunley realigned Hill's left leg, reshaped his left heel and re-enforced the stress-fracture site with a steel plate and screws. Genetically engineered material, which helps bones form, also was used to assist in the healing process.
As of Tuesday, Hill was not yet walking under his own power and still was using crutches.
Vinnie Hudson, Hill's personal trainer, said Hill began light rehabilitation on the ankle about "10 days ago. We're in the beginning parts, starting with range of motion. No walking or running," he said.
Hudson said that he had "no idea" whether Hill would play this season.
Hill has played just 47 games since signing a seven-year, $92.88 million contract as a free agent in the summer of 2000. He and free agent Tracy McGrady were part of the team's big plan to return to contention in the post-Shaquille O'Neal era.
But it was one false start after another for Hill.
Hill was never healthy after originally injuring his ankle during his final season with the Detroit Pistons. He played in just four games for Orlando in 2000-01 after his first surgery, lasted 14 games the next season after additional surgery and then 29 games after a third surgery.
The Magic did not apply for the medical exception previously because they believed Hill might make a successful comeback each season. Asked about applying this time, Gabriel said, "We've been working on it. That's all I can say."
The exception allows a team over the salary cap to acquire a player to replace the injured player. The exception for Hill could be worth about $4.8 million, the salary the Magic could offer a free agent or another player in a trade.
The maximum salary for the replacement player is 50 percent of the injured player's salary, or 108 percent of the league average salary for the previous season, whichever is less.
The Miami Heat received a full exception after Alonzo Mourning was diagnosed with a season-ending kidney ailment. The Heat signed guard Cedric Ceballos with the money.
Other teams receiving medical exceptions over the past few seasons have included the Houston Rockets (for Maurice Taylor), the Memphis Grizzlies (Bryant Reeves), the Philadelphia 76ers (Matt Geiger) and the New York Knicks (Luc Longley and Antonio McDyess).
The NBA's decision is a judgment call. The league assigns its own doctors to examine the medical evidence to determine whether a player potentially will miss an entire season. The league denied the New Jersey Nets' request in 2000 for Kerry Kittles, determining that Kittles could have been healthy enough to play at some point.
this is really bad for him.....like things are going right now he should think of retirement and hope to make a comeback in the future...what a waste of talent
Besides, what hope has he got if Lebron James is already as good as Hill in his prime... 
Try actually waiting until you're fully healed. If he actually makes it back for a bit of time they should try to trade him for a center.
, but he gotta move on i agree, but its just a shame thats all i meant
