The Suns are not only expecting to hear an answer from free agent Grant Hill today, they expect to hear the one they want.The Suns believe strongly that Hill will tell them he has decided to join them for the coming season. Hill can't sign anywhere before Wednesday, but he and his agent, Lon Babby, have been speaking with Suns General Manager Steve Kerr since free agency contact began Saturday night. AZ Central-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hill would benefit nicely in the Suns' uptempo offense. He wouldn't be able to get a lot of minutes most likely, but with a good 20-25, he could give them a nice contribution.
And the Orlando Sentinel too. Like I posted in the Suns forum, I like this. He's better than James Jones so I'm liking our rotation better for next year. I just hope Marcus Banks or one of the rookies can produce and get some minutes. We won't win with an old, 8-man rotation. Or if we do, we would have to get very lucky.
He can contribute a lot, IMO. A proven veteran who will be not only a good presence in the Locker Room during the playoffs next season, but a guy I feel can actually contribute on the court as well as off it.
He's signing for dead cheap, that really suprises me. He's only going to get paid a little more then a million dollars.
1.2 million for one year I heard....this is the guy the suns need, like ive been saying, an efficiency man, I really hope he could replace Diaw, because he just is a lazy bum who doesn't want to play basketball.
<span style="font-family:Tahoma">Just seen it on ESPN 1st take breaking news. I don't know, the Suns run a fast pace offense and Hill's up there and all.. I honestly don't think this will help them that much. JMO.</span>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ Jul 5 2007, 09:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>1.2 million for one year I heard....this is the guy the suns need, like ive been saying, an efficiency man, I really hope he could replace Diaw, because he just is a lazy bum who doesn't want to play basketball.</div>Actually I heard Diaw has been working with Amare this off-season. I think he'll be better this year. Another reason the suspensions may have been good. Maybe made him feel like he owes more to the team besides cashing in his check...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CavsRules @ Jul 5 2007, 09:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><span style="font-family:Tahoma">Just seen it on ESPN 1st take breaking news. I don't know, the Suns run a fast pace offense and Hill's up there and all.. I honestly don't think this will help them that much. JMO.</span></div>I don't expect a great deal from him either, just a much better option than James Jones, a 3-point specialist who can't hit threes. Hill is a good passer, always needed. He can drive to the basket and we need that. Besides Amare, none of our players really get to the line that much so it'll be good to have a player to do that and doesn't settle for the 3. And of course the whole, good for the locker room thing. It's a nice deal for 1.2 mil, only 7-800K to the luxury tax.
This adds some real depth and leadership but this prob going to kill his knees because he is in a running team. But he can rebound OK for his position and can play some D. He doesn't have a 3pt shot but he has a good midrange jumper. Good pick up thoughEDIT: He also is going to be inspired next season since he is playing for a contender and has not had a ring yet.
Should have came to Detroit Grant.. You'd have the main backup role on the team so you wouldn't have to worry about your knees, yet still get good minutes. Get at least half of the MLE, play for a contender, and be back where you first started out.Sigh..
Not that important but I guess we gave him the LLE, $1.8 million instead of the vet's minimum. Hmm, there goes the hopes of signing anyone else that could be productive.KG trade rumors will be coming back soon, I'll get excited, then he won't come...
We will have basically the same team as last year.MINUS- James JonesADD- Hill, Tucker (and hopefully an improved Diaw, Banks & STAT)A great shot at the title IMO. Hill doesn't even have to play lots of regular season minutes to help. Just 15-20mins a game would be fine. I would mind the Suns looking at one more player but I'm not that worried. We'll have to see how Banks does in the summer league. Its not like he could do worse than last year so thats a bonus.
Still, we got micro-fracture Amare, Nash with his back problem, Hill's ankles, KT...and our 2 guards have been injured during key playoff series. I think if we stay healthy we will have a good chance, but we will need a lot of luck. :-/ It's too bad Marion, Diaw and KT have such big contracts for what they give. If not we may have been able to find more good bench help.
On KTAR it says they told Hill that he'd start. He'll probably start like James Jones did, leaving after the first 5 or 6 minutes, but he'll get some more playing time than JJ. I agree with those who said 15-20 mpgEdit: make that 25 min.. So the starting line-up as of now will be Nash-Bell-Hill-Marion-Amare. I'm fine with that. I just hope Tucker does well and gets some time.
I am happy with that starting lineup. I hated James Jones starting and Boris Diaw, but I am very glad we got Hill. If our whole team can stay healthy at least through the playoffs, I believe we have an amazing shot at the title.
Great move by Phoenix on this signing, they really didn't have a backup SG (considering Barbosa can play PG fairly well off the bench). He and Barbosa off the bench could be Phoenix's bench all by itself.
Actually, I think Barbosa is not even close to being a reliable back-up at point guard. He's not a great distributor, mostly a head down, drive-to-the-basket guy. He's short, but he's a shooting guard. Hill will mostly play small forward as a starter or off the bench when Marion is playing PF which is most of the time. He's taking James Jones' spot on the team.As for the back-up PG, how good is your boi Strawberry? He's pretty good sized for a PG if he would be put there even if it's not his natural position...it would be nice if he could contribute and give Nash some rest.
The nba is turning into competion to c who has the most money cause they get the better players and teams like bobcats are stuck with u know what. is Shawn resigning with the suns or whats
