The Chosen

值得期待。

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http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0705hillonline.html

                                                        
Grant Hill will be a Sun.
                                                                               
Hill's agent, Lon Babby said that Hill told Phoenix today that he would join
the Suns in his quest for a championship. There is a moratorium on free agent
signings until Wednesday.
                                                                               
Hill was offered the Suns' biennial exception, which will pay him $1.83 million
in the coming season and give him a player option to return at $1.97 million
for 2008-09. Coming off a seven-year, $92 million contract with Orlando, money
was not his biggest lure to Phoenix.
                                                                                            
"He established a number of criteria," Babby said. "His opportunity to
contribute to a championship would be on the top of the list. He really thought
it through and was diligent and concluded this is the best opportunity for his
career. He's very, very excited about it."
                                                                               
Hill was drawn by the chance to be on a title contender and an important
playing role on a team that fits the 6-foot-8 swingman's versatile style. Hill,
who will turn 35 in October, could start for Phoenix with Steve Nash, Raja Bell
, Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire. He also will give Suns Coach Mike D'Antoni
another facilitator to help run the offense when Steve Nash is resting.
                                                                                        
"The opportunity described to him is consistent with what he's looking for,"
Babby said. "He's not someone looking for anything granted to him but more that
he'd have the opportunity to start."
                                                                               
Hill chose Phoenix over Detroit, Orlando, San Antonio, Miami and Dallas. Hill
heard phone pitches from each team this week, talking to Suns General Manager
Steve Kerr and Coach Mike D'Antoni on Tuesday. He also spoke to Steve Nash at
some point, Babby said.
                                                                               
Hill is coming off one of his healthiest season after an Orlando stay plagued
by injuries. He has undergone five surgeries on his left ankle, including one
that led to a life-threatening staph infection. He also underwent hernia
surgery in the fall of 2005.
                                                                                 
Hill bounced back last season, just as he did to make the 2005 All-Star Game
after rebounding from a four-year battle with ankle injuries that caused him to
miss all but 47 of 328 games. Last season, Hill played in 65 games and finished
a season in uniform, rather than a suit or a hospital, for the first in Orlando.
                                                                               
"His health is fine," Babby said. "There is every expectation that he will be
healthy."

                                                               
He averaged 14.4 points last season on 51.8 percent shooting and played 30.9
minutes per game. When he has played, Hill has shot 49 percent or better in the
past four seasons but he does not have three-point range. Once one of the
league's best rebounding swingmen, Hill averaged a career-low 3.6 rebounds last
season.
                                                                                         
But Phoenix relishes his versatility, court smarts, high character and
late-career motivation to win a championship. Hill had pondered retiring before
working the NBA Finals for ABC made him want to pursue a championship. His
teams have never advanced past the first round in five playoff appearances,
including Orlando's first-round sweep to Detroit in April.
                                                                               
Babby said it helped the Suns' chances to have assistant Alvin Gentry on staff.
Gentry coached in Detroit for five of Hill's seasons there, including 2 1/2
years that Gentry served as Hill's head coach.