| | Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS -- Grant Hill says there's no doubt about it: He's out of the Olympics.
Hill, the Detroit Pistons' star who broke his left ankle in
April, said the decision was made more than a month ago based on
his doctor's recommendation and his desire to be ready for next
season.
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| Hill |
"I'm not playing in the Olympics," Hill said Thursday before a
promotional appearance in Manhattan. "The doctors advised me not
to, although I probably could have played. But I figured I'll get
ready for training camp in October."
NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said Tuesday there was a
"real chance" Hill would miss the Olympics, and possible
replacements could be Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers or
Eddie Jones of the Charlotte Hornets.
Asked if he knew who would replace him, Hill, still on crutches
and wearing a walking boot to protect his ankle, said, "I don't
know. I think maybe Kobe Bryant, but I'm not sure."
Among the players on the U.S. Olympic team are Alonzo Mourning,
Vin Baker, Jason Kidd, Tim Hardaway, Steve Smith, Allan Houston,
Gary Payton, Ray Allen, Vince Carter and Kevin Garnett.
With Hill's Olympic status decided, a bigger question remains:
Whose training camp will Hill be in? He becomes a free agent July 1
and says he will explore his options before deciding where to play
next season.
"I'm not leaning either way right now," Hill said. "I want
to be open ... I want to meet with a few teams and, of course, meet
with Detroit and have a frame of reference and the make a decision.
"I don't have a short list. Really, I have spent more time
trying to get this leg to heal, and to get away from basketball.
It's been a good break."
One team that sounds appealing to Hill is the New York Knicks.
"I've always enjoyed playing here in the city," Hill said.
"But I haven't talked with anybody. You're not allowed to until
July 1.
"The idea of trying to help Patrick Ewing win a championship is
appealing. I grew up a Ewing fan, watching him at Georgetown,
wearing No. 33. I've always had a lot of respect for him, and I
rooted for them in the playoffs -- not that they would have done
well against the Lakers."
Hill, who averaged 25.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists
last year, earned $7.5 million in 1999-2000. The Pistons appear
ready to pay Hill $115 million over the next eight years to stay in
Detroit.
Hill broke his ankle in a playoff game against the Heat on April
25. He had a pin surgically inserted, wore a fiberglass cast for a
month and had the walking boot put on two weeks ago.
"I went to the doctor two days ago and now I can start to put
weight on the ankle," Hill said. "It'll probably be a few more
weeks, then it's on to rehab."
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