I don't think Grant Hill fits on this team. When you go after a player like him, some of his prime years should coincide with the rest of your franchise's prime years. With these injuries, odds are Grant will be retired, fading, or near to it by the time Griffin and Francis hit their prime. At the same time, it'd be very stupid for the Magic to do so. They fought and battled to position themselves to get Hill, and have reaped no benefits for 2 years. They won't trade him for 2 guys coming off of injury, neither with all-star caliber play in them. Hill can be an all-star. Two years ago, it could be thought that Hill may be making all-star teams for the next decade. Now, he can be an all-star for the next 2-3 years, but his career length just won't be there. While we're on the topic of Magic swingmen, to our resident Magic fan, mfclark, assuming Hill will be healthy for next year, would you trade Mike Miller for Kenny Thomas and the Toronto pick (#14 or #15, TBD)? That would seem to make sense because Hill and T-Mac would log major minutes at the 2 and 3, and KT is cost effective, and a better inside player than anyone on the Magic, plus a top 15 pick.
FINALLY, a trade actually worth thinking about. Excellent point, as always, NIKE!!! BTW: I'd do this deal in a second. It not only fills a need for us at SF, but it helps the Magic and addresses our glut at PF.
NIKEstrad & Jeff, Would you throw in the Chicago obligation from the Bryce Drew trade to sweeten the deal? Mango
NIKEstrad, you raise an interesting point and defend your statement well, but!... Grant Hill fits on any team. All around game like very few before or after. (Except when injured {always}) Plays both ends of the court with passion, and makes his teammates better. And a good guy to boot To me, that is like saying, "think I'll pass on Haley Berry because I don't like her hair."
Is that a 2nd rounder? If so, then, yeah I would. Miller is a great SF and really fills a giant hole in the roster.
Pat-Point well taken, but my point about him is this: -Coming off two MAJOR injuries -Significantly older than our team No doubt about it, this team would be better with Grant Hill, but I question if Grant Hill is a long term solution. No doubt his contract is long term. As it has been said, you're not going to get him for Rice and Taylor. I don't think we have the right package to make a deal work, because the Magic won't accept garbage contracts for an all-star caliber player that is highly promotable, and if healthy, the best all-around player in the game. Mango-I think I'd throw those in if needed. Hypothetically, if we got the #1 pick (Yao Ming), I would do it. At that point, the team is practically done-4 solid big men (Ming, Cato, Griffin, Taylor), a veteran who actually was somewhat similar to Miller in his day in Rice, Miller, and then backed by a guy who is a perfect complement in T-Mo. Francis. Mobley. And that's before free agency. I'd try and exchange Moochie for a veteran backup PG (Avery Johnson, Greg Anthony, Mookie Blaylock), and pick up a young 3rd stringer who would would understudy and become the backup in the 2nd round (Marcus Taylor, Frank Williams, etc. etc. who may rise/fall around draft day). Though, I'm not sure a couple of 2nd rounders would make or break from the Magic side. Don't they have like 6 future #1s owed? The Drew obligation is a future first, or more likely 2 2nds. Jeff-Thanks. I'm eager to see what a Magic fan thinks. This Toronto pick is big because when packaged with KT, it presents a high-value, low cost package, the only way to get quality youngsters. I'd present the same offer to Indiana for Artest, or for Bender for that matter. That package would also easily get Maggette. With the way his stock is falling, a month from now, that may even near the caliber of Odom. Any other quality SFs still on their rookie contracts, and possibly available? Anyhow, I think this is a good example of what we can do with our PF glut. Don't trade KT for no reason, but if there is an oppurtunity to fill a hole using him, by all means, do so...
We don't need more people our teams age, we need some veterans that our young guys will look up to and respect. Grant Hill alone would be better then Mo T, Rice or Walt...he HAS been a superstar and that is something that Mobley and Francis deperatly want. I would take a chance on him. DaDakota
I'm not sure I'd do it and I don't think the Magic would do it. I do have one question. Grant Hills salary for the next 5 seasons is: $12,072,500 / $13,279,750 / $14,487,000 / $15,694,250 / $16,901,500 If I were going to dump on MoT, I'd have thown the money at Chris Webber first. NIKEstrad's Mike Miller for KT and the Toronto pick is one of the best I've seen in a while. The unfortunate snag is that at the time of the draft, the Magic don't know precisely when Hill is returning and to what level of ability. Also, for any trade involving KT he will have to be resigned. There is currently about a $1.1m difference between KT and Miller.
People, we must understand this. After next season, the only players under contract for the magic will be a low wage Stephen hunter,G.Hill, and T-Mac. The Magic are doing a little forward thinking just like they did when they dumped Penny, Nick Anderson and some of those other high salaries for a chance at a superstar. They are going to try it again, and will have the loot. Its the same theory I wished the Rockets had tried. Resign Hakeem for 2 yrs at 7mil per, let moochie,Taylor,anderson and whomever else walk, then when hakeem comes of the books in two yrs, You have a shot at a IMPACT player like Duncan,Rasheed, or someone like that. Instead, the only way we have a shot at a impact player is through sign and trade. Had we not handcuffed ourself with Taylor,Norris and Rice we would have a chance at Duncan, but its all for not now. If you're Orlando and you already have a top 10 player playing, and maybe one coming back, and a chance to get a top 5, why take a soft 4 off injuries and risk a chance at Duncan when you can make the playoffs already without softie?
I don't think a KT for Miller trade is possible. The Magic need an insurance policy for Grant Hill if he doesn't come back healthy. Also, Miller is T-Mac's best friend on the team. I'm pretty sure that T-Mac alone could "nix" that trade the same way Francis could "nix" a Mobley trade.
Sign and trade is better than straight FA. You can offer the desireable more money with sign and trade. Cap room sux. I can't think of any good teams under the cap. There's nothing wrong with having a highly-paid roster full of quality. It's a bunch of over-paid, unmarketable junk that kills you. If you know your produce is going bad, mark it down and move it out. Your first sale is your best sale. It's not wine and it doesn't get better with age. There's no market for rot.
Would anyone do Rice + KT for Hill? Would Orlando do this trade? Rice only has two years left on his deal, part of which will be paid by NY, so they save millions on a player in Hill that may never be the same. Next summer, when they have a lot of cap space available, KT would only count about 3 million against the cap until resigned. They could sign their big free agent, and then resign KT. Also, the last I heard is Duncan wants to stay in SA, and recruit Kidd. That being said, KT + 14/15 pick for Miller sounds awesome.
If we suck hind tit in the draft (#6 / #7 / #8), then I wouldn't be upset if the Rockets traded that pick and K.T. for Mike Miller and their pick. Now, if Caron Butler is available, this might be a tough decision. Miller is taller, a better ball handler and a pure shooter while Butler has more hustle, more strength but may be too short in the new NBA to play SF.
I don't know. The Magic are high on Mike Miller, even though he does have his deficiencies (inexperience, perimeter quickness/defense). Personally, I'm high on KT and the Magic definately need help in the middle. I really think Hill will be healthy next year; but if the Magic traded Miller, they'd need a PG to backup Armstrong (going on 34) and Troy Hudson (FA this offseason). Then again, with Toronto's pick, their own pick (18 or 19, I think), and possibly Sacramento's pick, the Magic could move up and nab a premier post player in the lottery and a decent PG later on in the draft. By all means though, it's a much better deal for the Magic than trading Hill away, and something I'm not so sure they wouldn't do. But, with designs of Duncan in 2003 and hopes for Steven Hunter and in the draft this year, I think they'd probably pass. Myself? After all of this, I'd really only do it if I knew the Magic could get a top lotto pick out of it all.
One word: no. If Hill is healthy, why on Earth would the Magic do that trade? Even if he isn't, why? Rice has injuries problems of his own and while Hill may not be the same player again, he's still better than KT.
After reading the whole thread, I've changed my tune. If there is a report saying that Grant Hill is healthy RIGHT NOW at THIS point in time, then I'm all for getting him. The question is, does Rice come off the books when Duncan is an FA? KT (with extension) is not enough salary, or depth, -wise to get Hill. If Rice comes off the books when Duncan is an FA, I would, and Orlando would, willingly do a trade that is basicly Rice and KT for Hill. Don't you guys think it's perfect for them? Is this a winner on the East or what: Duncan KT Miller T-Mac Hudson? Armstrong? Mooch in exchange for a future pick? Who knows. All I know is, this year's Orlando, with KT instead of Pat Garrity and Duncan instead of Ho Grant is a lock for #1. I think they match up well with LA too. We saw last year that Duncan is the only player that can slow Shaq noticeably. We'd look like this: Cato or if we upgrade till then Griffin Miller Cuttino Francis Defense would be missing. I think the improvement over one season is pretty good. We'd still have our first rounders.
