Magic expect Hill will attempt to play By Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted August 19, 2003 The Orlando Magic are resigned to the fact that Grant Hill -- against their cautious wishes -- will attempt to come back and play sometime before the 2003-2004 season ends. The Magic want Hill -- who has had four surgeries on his left ankle in three years -- to continue his rehabilitation and return the following season. A showdown between the perennially injured star and the club could be in the offing late in the upcoming season. Hill had his last surgery on March 16, and his rehab has been confined to non-weight-bearing exercise. Asked if Hill might be ready to play by, say, next March, Magic Coach Doc Rivers said on Monday during a media luncheon, "He could be . . . I have no idea, to be honest. He's working his butt off. I think Grant, in Grant's mind . . . I think he's thinking, 'I'm not finished this season.' " Magic General Manager John Gabriel reiterated the franchise's desire for Hill to sit out the season as a precaution after three false starts but admitted, "I think Grant will want to try to play." The NBA also believed that Hill could play at some point next season, for it turned down the Magic's request this summer to secure a $4.9-million injury exception on Hill's behalf. Neither Hill nor his agent Lon Babby returned phone calls on Monday. One scenario kicked around by the Magic, according to league sources, is that Hill would be put through extensive workouts in game-type situations with the team before he'd ever be activated. Gabriel would only say, "Grant's rehabilitation will be supervised." The Magic have managed to put an end to what became a medical three-peat with Hill. Unlike the past three seasons, he will not start next season on the active roster. Hill had supposedly recovered from previous surgeries only to see his hopes -- and the team's -- dashed. He broke down at progressive stages each time -- after four games in 2000-01, after 14 games in 2001-02 and after 29 games last season. Hill has played in just 47 games since signing a seven-year, $93-million contract as a free agent in the summer of 2000. "This is the first year since we've had Grant that the beginning of the season hasn't started with him being healthy. This year we're going into the season not expecting Grant to play and we're moving on," Rivers said. "We're not pinning our hopes on him." Rivers said he routinely fields questions about Hill from fans, and the feedback he receives is never positive. "I don't know if there's any comment I get more than that question. I could be in Alaska and that Grant Hill question is coming up -- guaranteed. If I'm speaking somewhere, I'll bet the bank eventually someone will say, 'Tell us about Grant,' or they'll give their opinion about Grant and it's never a good one. You don't get, 'I love Grant Hill, man,' and that's too bad. "Grant's an amazing guy. It is a shame . . . for the most part, people here in the city probably don't like him. But I don't believe a lot of guys would be trying to do what he's trying to do. It's amazing how hard he works and how determined he is. He doesn't care about being a star anymore; he just wants to be a player that helps this team win. "Whether he accomplishes it or not remains to be seen." In other Magic news, the club expects to hold its training camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports. .
he won't even be 6th man, with howard and giricek at sf now. hopefully we can give him about 15 mins a game for awhile to keep him kinda healthy, then when he gets back into game shape then play him as our 6th man. and then maybe even start him during playoffs if he's still healthy. basically what i'm saying is gradually get him playing time.
