Hill Gets a New Start as Coach of Grizzlies

Brian Hill is ready to put Orlando behind him after becoming coach of the Vancouver Grizzlies on Thursday.

Hill, replacing General Manager Stu Jackson who assumed the job after firing Brian Winters on Jan. 24, will direct a team that begins its third year in the NBA after winning 15 and 14 games its first two seasons.

Hill also was replaced as the Magic’s coach in February after a player revolt. Hill, however, figures he can overcome the stigma of the Orlando situation by calling upon his experience and teaching credentials.

“There are similarities with any expansion group,” Hill said in Vancouver, British Columbia. “Right now you don’t have the talent base you’re going to have in two or three years when you expect to win more games.

“At this stage of the game it’s about developing an identity with the team, about the team establishing a character or trademark of its own.”

Following a news conference, Hill was questioned extensively about the Orlando uprising that eventually cost him his job after 3 1/2 years as coach there. He was an assistant there for three earlier seasons.

“This is a new team, a new situation and I’m going to be coaching 12 different players,” Hill said. “Like any situation in life, you learn from it and move on. What happened in Orlando really has nothing to do with my situation here in Vancouver.”

Hill, 49, directed the Magic to the NBA finals two years ago where they were swept by the Houston Rockets. The Magic won 191 games under Hill, but the team hovered around the .500 mark last season after free agent Shaquille O’Neal left Orlando for the Lakers.

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The Boston Celtics abandoned their attempt to trade Dino Radja to the Philadelphia 76ers, meaning he and his $5.3 million salary will be Boston’s responsibility.

“We will not contest Philadelphia’s decision not to proceed with the trade for Dino Radja,” the Celtics said in a statement issued in Watham, Mass, canceling a hearing scheduled for this morning in New York on the matter.

Pitino said the Celtics would not stand in the way if Radja, a Croat, wanted to play in Europe. That would let Boston clear Radja’s salary from its payroll and create more room under the salary cap.

Radja was dealt to the 76ers for Michael Cage and Clarence Weatherspoon a week ago, but he balked at reporting, then failed a physical administered by Philadelphia doctors. The 76ers then attempted to nullify the trade.

The Celtics’ decision apparently clears the way for the reported draft day deal made Wednesday between the New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia.

Under terms of that trade, the Nets would send swingman Jimmy Jackson, center Eric Montross and the seventh (forward Tim Thomas) and 21st picks (guard Anthony Parker) in the draft to the Sixers for the second pick (Keith Van Horn), forward Don MacLean, swingman Lucious Harris and Cage.

Neither the 76ers nor Nets would comment on the trade.