Posted at 9:08 a.m., Thursday, July 5, 2007
NBA: Hill moving from Magic to Suns, says agent
By Travis Reed
Associated Press
Hill, 34, was considering retirement or returning to Orlando for another season. His seven-year, $93 million contract just finished this season.
Agent Lon Babby said Hill agreed to a two-year deal worth about $1.8 million for the first year, with a second-year player option for about $2 million.
Teams are prohibited from commenting on any deals until the free agent signing period begins next Wednesday.
Babby said about 15 teams courted Hill, and he could've taken more money elsewhere.
"I think the most important factor for him was the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to a team competing for the championship," Babby said.
The agreement was first reported by ESPN.com and the Orlando Sentinel.
Hill's expiring deal gave the Magic salary cap room to go after a big-name free agent. They have reportedly agreed to terms with Seattle SuperSonics forward Rashard Lewis, but the deal isn't official until Wednesday.
This year was the first Hill finished healthy since arriving in Orlando in 2000 with a mysterious ankle injury that eventually required five surgeries. He has played only about a third of Orlando's 574 regular-season games, and just once made the All-Star team since leaving the Detroit Pistons.
