No, Rice has an additional season. Not like it matters much, since Orlando will still have enough salary cap room to get Duncan next offseason. Thus, there is no logic in trading Hill for Rice and KT - especially considering Rice's age and further injury troubles. I'd rather have a 75% Hill than Rice and KT anyday - and I think the Magic would rather have a 50% Hill than Rice and KT.
Live: Any player that hasn't really played in 2 years because of injury problems can be talked about for much less than Francis and lotto picks. I think if we offered Francis for Hill strait up the Magic would take that in a heart beat. I would not trade a lot for Hill even if he was given a clean bill of health. Once a player gets injured like he did his ankle will never be the same again and he would definately be at a higher risk on injuring it again. Trading our top lotto pick for him would be a hugh gamble the rockets can't afford to take. Could you imagine the consiquences if we traded for Hill and he hurt the same ankle to the point that he was never able to play again. The rocks would be screwed for the next five years.
Hill's remaining contract: 5 years, $72.5 million. Rice's remaining contract: 2 years $18 million, $4.5 million of which to be paid by NY KT's remaining contract: 1 year $1.5 million Savings to Orlando by doing this deal: $57.5 million dollars.
By your logic then, why would Houston do the deal? And, by my logic, why would the Magic do the deal? Hill's remaining talent: about 10x that of Rice's and 6x that of KT. Magic salary problems: minimal. Magic's biggest selling point to the community and free agents: Grant Hill. Hill's long-term prognosis compared to Rice's: quite a bit better, I must say. Not to mention that, as mentioned above, he has more talent than Rice even at 50%. Orlando doesn't need an old spotup shooter; they already have about 4 spotup shooters as it is. Rice serves no purpose on the Magic.
Actually, they need depth, but don't want long contracts. That's how it helps. Plus they get their PF.
The Magic aren't worrying about long contracts, especially not in trading them for contracts that end at some other point than the offseason next year. Trading for Rice, thus, makes no sense. KT is not an improvement from a depth standpoint, considering Glen Rice is redundant and if Hill is healthy - or even halfway there - he's still at least on the same level as KT (and most likely quite a bit higher).
I usually don't quote stats, but.... 14 games 16.8 PPG 8.9 RPG 4.6 APG On a bad ankle needing surgery! True franchise-caliber SF who actually makes his teammates better, entering into the prime of his career. And he's supposed to make a complete recovery. (Finally did the smart thing and took enough time off, he came back too soon the first time) Don't worry, I don't think the Magic would offer him regardless. Doc Rivers, to paraphrase, was on Jim Rome and admitted that he marveled as to how effective Hill was this year, despite being in obvious pain and being at less than 100%. ( Remember, Hill is a slasher like Cat, so you know what having bad ankles does to his overall game) Rivers seemed very excited about having Hill back. Plus, knowing how much of an impact a player like Hill could make on the Rockets, (WOW! He's a MUCH better version of Odom) I can definitely see the asking price being very high for Hill.
