Hill Has Season Cut Short

The Orlando Magic turned back into a dark horse and Grant Hill’s career became a longer shot too with Tuesday’s announcement that he will undergo the third operation in two years to his left ankle, ending his season early again.

The implications extend even beyond Hill and this season, possibly even to the NBA’s balance of power, now tilted toward the West.

Six-time all-star that he is, Hill is also the linchpin of Orlando’s suspected plan--a taboo subject in public but much discussed on the NBA grapevine--to lure San Antonio’s Tim Duncan in 2003.

Hill is close to Duncan, who made a recruiting visit with Grant in 2000 and almost decided to accompany Hill to Orlando.

Duncan can opt out of his contract in the summer of 2003. Coincidentally or not, Magic General Manager John Gabriel has created some $12-million worth of cap room for that moment, even sending away useful players such as Bo Outlaw to dump salary.

Hill, who signed a seven-year, $92.9-million contract as a free agent in 2000, shortly after undergoing his first operation, played only four games last season, then underwent his second surgical procedure.

After almost nine months of rehabilitation, he returned this season but lasted only 14 games before leaving with bone spurs in his ankle.

“We are obviously disappointed and we feel badly for Grant Hill, who has to go through this again,” a somber Gabriel said at a news conference in Orlando.

“We feel badly for his teammates, his coaching staff, our staff and our fans ... who have shared our dream for this season.

“He knows he has a lot left in the tank, a lot of good years ahead of him. The doctors met with him and us to let us know they feel he will come back from this and he just wants to get the timetable going as quickly as possible.”

Hill is to undergo surgery today in Baltimore, performed by Dr. Martin Myerson, who also did the second surgery.

With Hill and Tracy McGrady, the Magic had been expected to be one of the best teams in the East, but the team was only 7-6 when Hill first left the lineup Nov. 24.

Hill had played well, if not spectacularly or up to his old level, averaging 16.8 points as the No. 2 option to the ascendant McGrady, with a team-high 8.9 rebounds (second among NBA small forwards to Phoenix’s Shawn Marion) and 4.6 assists.

All concerned conceded Hill didn’t have his old explosiveness.

“He hasn’t reached the point where he’s the old Grant Hill,” said McGrady--but everyone hoped he would get it back.

Instead, Hill began experiencing new pain in his heel from bone spurs. When it didn’t go away, he flew to Baltimore to consult Myerson, who first called it a “new injury.”

Hill went on the injured list. Without him, the team went 2-4 on a Western swing and fell to 12-14.

Clearly worried, Hill talked to Bill Walton, whose career was cut short by chronic foot injuries.

“It’s human nature to think the worst when you don’t really know what’s going on,” Hill said. “This has been giving me problems now since [1999] ... and now we’re approaching 2002. At some point, I need to put this behind me.”

The plan, as first broached, was that if Hill was to undergo a third surgery, it would be arthroscopic, allowing him to return in a month.

However, Tuesday they decided on an invasive procedure, in which holes will be drilled in Hill’s ankle and protein injected into them in the hope it will strengthen the bones.

Hill did not make an appearance, but expressed his disappointment in a prepared statement: “Hopefully, this will lead me down the road to recovery. I will continue to remain optimistic as I face this latest challenge.”

No one has any doubt what this means immediately for the team, which finished 43-39 without him last season, No. 7 in the East.

“There’s a clear difference in our team when he’s in the game and when he’s not,” Coach Doc Rivers said last week. “He’s the guy who facilitates everything for us now. He sets it up, even when he’s not involved in the play.”

What it means ultimately remains to be seen and lots of people will be watching closely.