Grant Hill Signs With L.A. Clippers

Grant Hill is still out to prove he’s not over his last name yet.

The veteran small forward will turn 40 before next season, but the free agent is still in demand. Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that both the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks were after him to sign, but Hill settled on a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers instead. Sports Illustrated confirmed that John Gambadoro, a talk show host at Sports 620 KTAR Phoenix, was the first to report the agreement.

The Clippers have also added Jamal Crawford and Lamar Odom this off-season after being eliminated in the second round of the NBA playoffs last season..

Last season with the Phoenix Suns, Hill averaged 10.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest. He played 28 minutes per game. All three stats marked career-lows.

Once considered one of the greatest all-around players in the NBA, Hill’s career was slowed by injuries. He averaged better than 20 point and 5 rebounds per game for five-straight years before a string of ankle injuries caused him to play in just 47 games over three seasons.

Since then, Hill rarely been his team’s primary weapon, but his defensive and leadership skills made him a desirable player, and he can still step up his scoring in a pinch, breaking 20 twice last season.

Hill is the second-oldest player in the NBA, behind only Tim Thomas, who is one day older.

Only time will tell if Grant Hill has enough left in the tank to help superstar Blake Griffin and Chris Paul push the long-suffering Clippers from contenders to champions.

(Photo by Keith Allison)