No Kiddin': Knicks Make Offer to Grant Hill
By JOHN P. WISE
Updated 1:00 PM EST, Tue, Jul 7, 2009
NBA veteran Grant Hill could be a Knick as soon as tomorrow, according to published reports.
The Knicks wined and dined the former All-Star last night and made a one-year offer that Hill would be able to sign as early as tomorrow, the first day free agents are allowed to change addresses, The New York Post reported.
"We think we have a chance, but you never know," a Knicks source told the paper.
Atlantic Division rival Boston appears interested in throwing money at Rasheed Wallace, limiting what the Celtics would have available to offer Hill. The Knicks have their $5.8 million mid-level salary exception available, half of which they can use to beat Boston's lower-level exception of $1.9 million, the Post reported.
Last week's interest was in Jason Kidd, who, like Hill, played his best basketball years ago. But the point guard agreed to terms with the Mavericks and will stay in Dallas.
Hill was a superstar coming out of Duke, but that was many years and several injuries ago. He averaged 12 points and five rebounds for Phoenix last season when the Suns were one of the few teams not to make the NBA playoffs.
Still, Hill's versatility -- at 6-foot-8 he can play a 2 or a 3 and also defend multiple positions -- and his experience make him attractive, even at 36. He's never won a championship, but has played in enough big games and postseasons that Knicks President Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni think he'd be an asset.
"You want to have players who've had a lot of success before so they can show the other players how to do it," Walsh told the Post. "That's the kind of player we want to bring in."
Added D'Antoni: "Hill's a class act. He knows how to play. I think he's one of the best free agents out there."
First Published: Jul 7, 2009 11:01 AM EST
You Might Like
You have 2000 characters left
