Broderick Turner is reporting that the Clippers have joined the Knicks and Lakers as potential suitors for 39-year old forward, Grant Hill.
Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro met with Hill on Sunday in Las Vegas to see how interested the 39-year-old is in playing for Los Angeles, according to the executives.
There are three ways the Clippers could try to acquire Hill.
They could use the bi-annual exception that is a maximum two-year deal starting at $1.9 million.
They could pay the veteran minimum, which would be $1.3 million for a player such as Hill who has 17 years of experience.
Or the Clippers could try to exercise a sign-and-trade with Hill’s former team, the Suns, sending Ryan Games and his $4-million salary to Phoenix.
Many on this site advocated for pursuing Hill as a free agent last season, so another productive season under the watchful eye of the Phoenix training staff shouldn’t change that, despite his advancing age. Grant Hill is a nice player to have around — the type that stays in great shape, knows his role, and adds to the culture of any team.
In addition to all that, he’s still a pretty good basketball player. His player efficiency rating (PER) last season of 12.3 was not All-Star level, but it was better than the Clippers’ starter, Caron Butler (11.7). Without comparing the two — and there will be plenty of time for that if Hill were to sign with the Clips — it’s pretty clear Hill would be a capable backup to Butler.
Hill also brings to the table a legitimate versatility that many of the Clippers additions this offseason do in reputation only. Age has begun to catch up with him, but he can still handle the ball, pass, defend and knock down an open jumper.
If he’ll have them, it would make a good deal of sense for the Clippers to sign him up.
Of the options Turner suggested, both the bi-annual exception (BAE) and veteran’s minimum are viable, although if forced to choose one, you’d hope to get him for the minimum so you could use the BAE on someone else. Similarly, in an ideal world the Clippers would hang onto Gomes, thus they would have his expiring contract to use in another deal.
But we are getting ahead of ourselves here. If Grant Hill wants to play for the Clippers, it’s good to know that they’d be interested.
