NBA free agency: 30 worst free agent signings in NBA history
Orlando Magic. 7 Years, $93 Million. Grant Hill. 8. player. 38.
Worst free agency signings in NBA history: 8. Grant Hill, Orlando Magic
Grant Hill is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame primarily for his play with the Detroit Pistons professionally and the Duke Blue Devils in college, but as a member of the Orlando Magic, he had a rather forgettable stint due to injury woes.
Hill was entering the peak of his career during the 1999-00 NBA season and coming off his fifth NBA All-Star appearance in sixth seasons with Detroit when it came time to renew his contract.
Hill had won the 1994-95 NBA Rookie of the Year award and made numerous appearances on All-NBA squads as a member of the Pistons. Detroit balked at the idea of re-signing though, trading Hill in a sign-and-trade deal to Orlando who then signed him to a seven-year, $93 million deal.
Hill had just produced 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game through six seasons with the Pistons, so it was a no-brainer in shelling out the money for him.
However, an ankle he suffered in the 2000 NBA Playoffs caused him to appear in just four games during his first year with the Magic, 14 during the 2001-02 NBA season, 29 during the 2002-03 NBA season and he missed the entire 2003-04 NBA season. Through the first four seasons with the Magic, he appeared in just 57 combined games.
Hill did manage to get healthy and appear in 67 games during the 2004-05 campaign, making the NBA All-Star Game in the process. He put up 19.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals per contest, but in the following season, he appeared in just 21 contests.
He managed to lead the Magic to just one playoff appearance after making it to four with the Pistons. Following the 2006-07 NBA season, he became a free agent and signed with the Phoenix Suns, where he did manage to put together a solid career as a reserve in the rotation.