Orlando Magic: 3 worst free agent signings in team history

3. Grant Hill

Is it unfair that Grant Hill makes this list? Probably, as he is arguably the greatest “what if” player of all time as a result of injuries. But the simple facts are this: Hill was signed to a seven-year, $93 million deal in 2000 when he was in theory just hitting his prime as a 28-year-old having established himself as one of the best players in the league with the Detroit Pistons.

What followed next stunted the Magic’s potential to grow into one of the best teams in the league greatly, as Hill managed only 47 games in his first four seasons with the franchise. A terrible return that meant by the time he got back to the court in some capacity in 2004-05, not only was he 32 but McGrady was gone too.

Hill was still an All-Star that year, as he averaged 19.7 points per game alongside a young Howard. Even then, it was clear that the dominant big man was the guy to build around, and that Hill’s timeline no longer matched that of the Magic. He did hang around for two more years though, although given that he only played in 21 games in 2005-06 because of injury, the likelihood is nobody else wanted him.

He signed with the Phoenix Suns upon entering free agency, meaning the Magic didn’t even manage anything in return. If we’re looking at any sort of silver lining here, it is that Hill’s injuries meant the team was bad enough to be able to draft Howard in 2004, who would lead them to the Finals five years later.

Signing Hill to pair with McGrady was meant to signal Orlando as one of the best teams in the league. Looking at the NBA during that period, it was the then-New Jersey Nets who came out of the east in 2002 and 2003. Had Hill and McGrady gotten the chance to play together and be healthy, there’s every reason to think the Magic could have taken their place.

To add even more woe to this poor decision (although again, it wasn’t at the time), Hill would spend the rest of his career after Orlando remaining pretty healthy, playing 80 games or over in three of his remaining six years (and 70 games in one of the other seasons) managing to play until he was 40. Not before taking a whole heap of cash from the Magic though.