NBA Rumors: Grant Hill Would Bring the Lakers One Step Closer to a Title

The Los Angeles Lakers are making bold moves to improve the roster this summer, and Grant Hill would be another wise addition to move the team closer to its 17th NBA championship.

ESPN’s Marc Stein reported that the Lakers were interested in Hill, and that recent addition Steve Nash will help with the recruiting process.

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Sources told ESPN.com that Nash will try to convince longtime teammate Grant Hill, one of his closest friends in the game, to join him with the Lakers. ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reported over the weekend the Lakers were one of four teams (along with Toronto, New York and Phoenix) in the running for Hill after the 39-year-old's recent trip to Germany to undergo the same platelet-enrichment treatment on his knee that Bryant credited for his rejuvenated knee last season. 

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Hill was one of the game’s premier players when he entered the league, but suffered an unfortunate string of injuries that hampered his production for most of the 2000s. He did not play more than 67 games in a year between the 2000-01 season and the 2006-07 season.

But a move to the Phoenix Suns allowed Hill to resurrect his career as a consummate role player. This past season, Hill was again bothered by injuries, but he appeared in at least 70 games during each of the previous four seasons with the Suns. 

Hill is everything a championship contender could want in a rotation player. He is experienced, efficient and a leader in the locker room. His stats dropped this past season due to his ailments, but just last year, Hill played in 80 games and averaged 13.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game on 48.4 percent shooting from the field and 39.5 percent from three-point range. 

After undergoing the same treatment that dramatically helped Kobe Bryant, his 2010-11 output is likely what the Lakers could expect from Hill. 

But Hill is a mediocre athlete at this point in his career, and a legitimate concern with this addition is that it would make the team too old. 

The Lakers looked over-the-hill and slow at times this past season, and adding Nash, who is 38-years-old, and Hill would not help this situation. But the Lakers’ age is not a cause for that much concern.

Just two seasons ago, the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA championship when they had the second-oldest roster in the league based on average age and the oldest when adjusted for minutes played, according to Hoopism.com.

The veteran savvy that Hill brings to the court and the locker room will be extremely beneficial, and because he will almost certainly be coming off the bench, his lack of athleticism will not be overly detrimental to the team’s success.

Hill is quality player on both ends of the floor and would be an excellent addition to the roster. His chemistry with Nash, his play over the last few seasons and his drive to win his first NBA championship are all factors that will lead to his success in Los Angeles.

His age is not enough of a concern to outweigh these other factors. If Hill is willing to sign with the Lakers, the team would be wise to bring him to L.A.