Hill eager for championship ride
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 6, 2007 06:52 PM
On Thursday, as Grant Hill made a killer whale's splash by announcing he was coming to Phoenix, he took his 5-year-old daughter, Myla, to SeaWorld in Orlando.
On Friday, he said he decided to celebrate that move by treating Myla to rides and entertainment at Universal Studios.
There are no such theme parks in the Valley but Hill has one ride in mind. For a 34-year-old man who has never felt the thrill of winning a playoff series, Hill chose Phoenix with the hope that it takes him on a championship ride.
"It means a lot to me to have a chance to win a championship and I feel it's a great chance," Hill said Friday by phone. He will be introduced at a news conference next week.
"I feel lucky and honored to play with a team like Phoenix that has that chance. I may be more excited than they are."
That is a close race with Hill being such a cost-effective, big-name addition. He will be paid $1.83 million for the coming season with a $1.97 million player option for 2008-09. Hill gets the happy edge for now because the Suns staff can only keep grinning until he signs, which may be Wednesday.
"I feel real comfortable with everything - players, coaches and Steve (Nash)," Hill said. "I can't wait to play with him. I'm looking forward to playing with Shawn (Marion), Amaré (Stoudemire) and Raja (Bell), too. I really look forward to getting out there. Hopefully, I can bring some versatility and a guy who can finish off the break."
Nash, like Suns General Manager Steve Kerr and coach Mike D'Antoni, called Hill during the past week's recruitment. Hill said he and Nash are longtime friends from afar. Besides basketball and being two of the NBA's more philanthropic stars, there is a connection because Hill's wife, singer Tamia, and Nash are Canadian. They talked on the phone as much as Nash and Hill did.
"There was a lot of 'eh' and all that stuff going on," Hill said.
Hill's agent, Lon Babby, said Phoenix's pitch was consistent with Hill's desire to compete for a starting job. The Suns envision a starting five of Nash, Bell, Hill, Marion and Stoudemire but it is not set in stone. Boris Diaw is a possibility after starting 59 times last season when D'Antoni used 12 starting lineups.
"If they want me to come off the bench or compete, that's fine," Hill said. "Whatever happens, I just want to play. I'll do whatever's best for the team. Of course, any player is competitive enough to want to start."
Hill makes Phoenix's roster nearly set, barring a trade. It is likely the Suns will re-sign center Sean Marks to give them 12 guaranteed contracts once first-round pick Alando Tucker signs. The requisite 13th player could be second-round pick D.J. Strawberry or a free agent such as Pape Sow, who will play on the Suns' summer league team next week.
Marks played three games last season and has never played more than 25 in any of his seven seasons but was appreciated for his good attitude and practice work.
Marks would make $1,033,930, but $263,320 of it comes from a league fund for veteran's minimum contracts. Only the difference ($770,610) would count for salary-cap purposes.
"I'd love to be back, especially with the addition of Grant Hill, another great player and good guy," Marks said. "Phoenix is the main concern. If it works out, perfect. I don't want to worry about anything else. That's where I want to be. The main reason I went there was to win a championship and it's headed in that direction."
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 6, 2007 06:52 PM
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On Thursday, as Grant Hill made a killer whale's splash by announcing he was coming to Phoenix, he took his 5-year-old daughter, Myla, to SeaWorld in Orlando.
On Friday, he said he decided to celebrate that move by treating Myla to rides and entertainment at Universal Studios.
There are no such theme parks in the Valley but Hill has one ride in mind. For a 34-year-old man who has never felt the thrill of winning a playoff series, Hill chose Phoenix with the hope that it takes him on a championship ride.
"It means a lot to me to have a chance to win a championship and I feel it's a great chance," Hill said Friday by phone. He will be introduced at a news conference next week.
"I feel lucky and honored to play with a team like Phoenix that has that chance. I may be more excited than they are."
That is a close race with Hill being such a cost-effective, big-name addition. He will be paid $1.83 million for the coming season with a $1.97 million player option for 2008-09. Hill gets the happy edge for now because the Suns staff can only keep grinning until he signs, which may be Wednesday.
"I feel real comfortable with everything - players, coaches and Steve (Nash)," Hill said. "I can't wait to play with him. I'm looking forward to playing with Shawn (Marion), Amaré (Stoudemire) and Raja (Bell), too. I really look forward to getting out there. Hopefully, I can bring some versatility and a guy who can finish off the break."
Nash, like Suns General Manager Steve Kerr and coach Mike D'Antoni, called Hill during the past week's recruitment. Hill said he and Nash are longtime friends from afar. Besides basketball and being two of the NBA's more philanthropic stars, there is a connection because Hill's wife, singer Tamia, and Nash are Canadian. They talked on the phone as much as Nash and Hill did.
"There was a lot of 'eh' and all that stuff going on," Hill said.
Hill's agent, Lon Babby, said Phoenix's pitch was consistent with Hill's desire to compete for a starting job. The Suns envision a starting five of Nash, Bell, Hill, Marion and Stoudemire but it is not set in stone. Boris Diaw is a possibility after starting 59 times last season when D'Antoni used 12 starting lineups.
"If they want me to come off the bench or compete, that's fine," Hill said. "Whatever happens, I just want to play. I'll do whatever's best for the team. Of course, any player is competitive enough to want to start."
Hill makes Phoenix's roster nearly set, barring a trade. It is likely the Suns will re-sign center Sean Marks to give them 12 guaranteed contracts once first-round pick Alando Tucker signs. The requisite 13th player could be second-round pick D.J. Strawberry or a free agent such as Pape Sow, who will play on the Suns' summer league team next week.
Marks played three games last season and has never played more than 25 in any of his seven seasons but was appreciated for his good attitude and practice work.
Marks would make $1,033,930, but $263,320 of it comes from a league fund for veteran's minimum contracts. Only the difference ($770,610) would count for salary-cap purposes.
"I'd love to be back, especially with the addition of Grant Hill, another great player and good guy," Marks said. "Phoenix is the main concern. If it works out, perfect. I don't want to worry about anything else. That's where I want to be. The main reason I went there was to win a championship and it's headed in that direction."
