<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Magic's Hill: Season over Ankle troubles won't go away for NBA veteran BY JOHN DENTON FLORIDA TODAY ORLANDO -- Grant Hill wanted to head into this summer knowing that his troublesome left ankle was structurally sound and hoped to gain that peace of mind by playing in the Orlando Magic's final nine games of the season. But after realizing that another setback in this four-year saga could be catastrophic toward his dream of someday playing again, Hill has decided shelve his latest comeback. Hill, who has undergone four surgeries to repair a non-healing stress fracture on the inside of his left ankle, will instead continue rehabilitating and hope to return next October when the Magic open training camp. Hill hasn't played in a game since Jan. 16, 2003, meaning he will go 21 months between playing in the NBA. "You weigh the benefit of playing a handful of games against the opportunity of just waiting until next year," Hill's attorney, Lon Babby, said Monday. "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. That's where everybody has come out on it at this point." The benefits of waiting until next season were emphasized to Hill again Saturday when he met with Dr. James Nunley at Duke University Medical Center. Nunley performed the latest -- and most extensive surgery yet -- on Hill last March, a procedure in which Hill's heal was broken and realigned with his ankle. Babby said that check-up was encouraging and that it was the desire to wait -- more so than any medical red flags -- that led to the decision to delay the comeback. "There was some notion that this exam that he had at Duke was some kind of setback, but that's hardly the case," Babby said. "The ankle is progressing very, very well and it's continuing to heal. So why not give it an additional six months to heal rather than trying to play seven or eight games in April?" The Magic, who play in Miami tonight, are going through one of their worst seasons in the 15-year history of the franchise. The team, saddled with the NBA's worst record at 18-47, has been hamstrung financially because of Hill's $13.2 million salary and unable to add talent around star Tracy McGrady. The Magic applied in June to the NBA for an injury exception, a medical waiver that would have allowed them to sign a free agent (likely center Michael Olowokandi) at a starting salary of $5.9 million. However, the league denied the Magic's bid, feeling Hill would make a comeback this season. Hill could not be reached for comment Monday. He said Sunday that reports last week of him possibly returning to practice this week were "extremely premature." "It comes down to the old business equation of high risk versus low reward," Hill said. "Right now, I'm still looking for a scenario that's high reward against low risk." Magic general manager John Gabriel had hoped to meet with team physician, Dr. Joe Billings, trainer Ted Arzonico, physical therapist Vinnie Hudson and Hill on Monday prior to the team leaving for Orlando. However, such a meeting never materialized. Gabriel has been in favor of Hill putting off his comeback plans until next season all along. He said all signs look good now that Hill can make a comeback, but the true test will be getting through an entire NBA season. "I, myself, wouldn't go there," Gabriel said in reference to claims that Hill's ankle is healing better than ever. "I would say we'll be happier than the other times when he can play an extended period of time." Because of salary cap reasons, Hill was going to be allowed to play no more than nine games this season. Had he done that and suffered an injury that would have forced him to retire, Hill's massive contract would have come off the Magic's salary cap following next season. Babby said that Hill is confident that he can still salvage his career and become a productive player yet again. Hill's determination was evident in him undergoing the complex surgery last March, showing that he wasn't ready to give up on his career just yet. "I'm of the view that he's still going to play for a number of years," Babby said. "There's nothing else wrong with him. If his ankle holds up, there's nothing else that has reduced his ability to play the game. It's not like he's suffered structural damage that has made it harder for him to jump or do a crossover dribble. I'm sure he'll be rusty when he comes back, but I don't think his skills will have diminished." </div> Man, I feel bad for Hill. I'm starting to have the realization that he'll never play again. Hopefully this is just a minor setback.
Thats really sad, Sorry if this was mentioned in the article but it looks too long too read. What exactly is wrng with his ankle is it like in his family. I mean y so many surgeries.
That's really sad, but as I stated before I don't really believe he will ever come back. Orlando must try it without him and must look for a future without him. If he comes back healthy and in good shape next year, perfect, if not Orlando must be ready and prepared. There is no way that Orlando can have another season like this otherwise T-Mac will be gone.
i did, but now i don't care, because i don't want to see him in this miserable saison, next saison i hope he is a help for the team
Me too. I'm glad that he's gonna sit out, hopefully this summer will be a positive for him and that he will be back at game strength.
