The Godfather of Basketball

Although the Pacers are now strong and will be one of the main competitors of the Cavaliers in the playoffs, everything needs to be weighed against the pros and cons.

In the end, the Cavaliers agreed to the Pacers' offer.

The Cavaliers sent Lance Stephenson to the Pacers for a protected first-round pick (lottery protection).

The deal between the Cavaliers and the Pacers has been reached, the trade deadline is approaching infinitely, and other deals have also been concluded one after another.

The Nuggets sent Nene to the Wizards in exchange for potential insiders JaVale McGee and Nick Young.

The Spurs sent away Richard Jefferson in a three-way deal and got old player Stephen Jackson.

The Hornets and the Kings reached a buzzer trade, and the Hornets sent Cousins ​​to the Kings for the 2012 first-round pick and some additions.

...

After the trade deadline passed, the boiling league finally quieted down.

On the second day of the trade deadline, Grant Hill and the Rockets reached a buyout agreement.

Basically, for a contract of 6 million, Hill only needs less than 2 million.

For him, at this stage of his life, money is not the most important thing to him.

And after the buyout was reached, he immediately signed a one-year veteran's basic salary contract worth 1.44 million with the Cavaliers.

After the signing was concluded, Hill's former teammates also congratulated him one after another.

"Bless my friend Grant, the legend should have a good ending." Nash wrote on Twitter immediately after hearing Hill's signing.

"He is a legend, and now he finally has the opportunity to chase his own championship trophy." Pistons general manager Joe Dumars said.

"Grant is the most talented player I have ever seen, and signing with the Cavaliers is the best choice for him." McGrady, who has just joined the Suns, said.

"People always talk about who will become Jordan's successor or something, but in my eyes, the only one who has the potential to become or surpass Michael is Grant. His excellence is really beyond words, and now, he has The best opportunity." Jerry Stankhouse, a former All-Star who played with Hill on the Pistons for three years, commented.

...

Grant Hill is a somewhat familiar but unfamiliar player to many fans around the world, because his brilliance was before the 21st century, and at that time, the global promotion of the NBA was really not very good .

But in the United States, he is almost a household name. Perhaps only the fact that he was elected as the All-Star voter in his rookie season can most intuitively express the love of American fans for him.

Lightning first step, unsolvable breakthrough, proficient mastery of all basketball skills, and of course the most important point, he is handsome and violent enough to play.

At that time, Jordan was retiring, and Stern intended to appoint a player to succeed Jordan and become the spokesperson of the league, and Hill was this person.

The title of "Jordan's successor" also came from this, and it was appointed by the league.

In his rookie season, he averaged 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.77 steals per game, sharing the best rookie with Jason Kidd.

In the second season, he averaged 20.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game, and was elected as the All-Star vote leader again. This time, he overwhelmed Michael Jordan, who came back from retirement and was preparing to start the second period of the Bulls dynasty.

In the third year of his rookie, Hill reached the peak of his personal career, averaging 21.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game, second only to Michael Jordan and Karl Malone in the MVP selection, and scored 34 points and 15 in the season. A large triple-double with 14 rebounds and 14 assists.

Everything is developing in the direction expected and expected by everyone.

However, fate made a little joke with him afterwards.

In the first round of the 2000 playoffs against the 76ers, he sprained his ankle and insisted on playing with the injury. As a result, the ankle injury deteriorated infinitely and he was even unable to play.

And his career has undergone a 180° change. He was traded by the Pistons and moved to Orlando. He played less than 30 games in the Magic for 6 years and 4 years. He has never scored more than 20 points per game. He will never recover. Ankle injuries have accompanied him throughout his career.

Although the sun glowed for the second spring after that, the "Jordan successor" and the championship have completely missed him.

"Heaven is jealous of talents" is the best description of Hill's entire career, and it also makes everyone sigh.

This is why the signing of a veteran will attract so many people's attention.

Hill's physical examination was completed the next day, and before the game against the Pistons, Tang Tian met the legendary veteran in Detroit.

With sunken eye sockets, a little white hair on the sideburns, and a stubble beard, this is a 39-year-old veteran.

In history, there are not many players at this age who are still playing in the NBA, and they are not point guards who can play healthily.

"Grant, welcome." Tang Tian greeted Hill with a smile.

"Coach!" Hill hugged Tang Tian excitedly. The Cavaliers contacted him before he was bought out, which showed that they attached great importance to him, let alone sent away a potential rookie in order to sign him.

"That's your wardrobe, say hello to your teammates." Tang Tian said to Hill with a smile.

As a veteran who has played in the league for 16 years, he naturally knows a lot of people.

"Hey, Vince!"

"Hey, Brother Grant! Long time no see!"

"Haven't we only seen each other for two months?"

"Ha ha!"

"Chris, let me just say, if you live in Cleveland, you must live more comfortably than Charlotte?"

"Well, Sean, long time no see."

...

Hill was greeting the players of the Cavaliers, and Tang Tian and Casey also left the locker room with a smile.

"Do you want to put Grant on the activation list?" Casey thought of it and asked directly.

"Come on, he needs the stage here." Tang Tian nodded.

Hill replaced Stephenson, not just a player replacement, Hill's ability and experience can be squeezed into the Cavaliers' rotation.

Of course, the premise is to inspect the goods.

After the Pistons sent away four of the Pistons, they have missed the playoffs for three consecutive years, and this season has basically given up early. Now the team is mainly training newcomers, Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight , Rodney Stuckey is the current core lineup of this team.

The economic downturn, coupled with the team's poor record, for those fans who still come to the Palace of Auburn Hills to watch the game, being able to see Grant Hill again tonight may be one of the motivations for them to choose to come to the scene.

The game that night started quickly. Monroe was crushed on both offense and defense against Yao Ming, and Stuckey, who had high hopes, was completely blown out against Paul.

After playing 5 minutes in the third quarter, the Cavaliers have led the Pistons by as many as 25 points 71 to 46.

At this moment, Tang Tian got up and called Grant Hill, signaling him to replace Jimmy Butler.