NBA Free Agents 2011: Why Grant Hill Will Be Most Successful with Phoenix Suns

Free-agent veteran Grant Hill's future is cloudy at the moment, but the veteran baller would be most successful signing with the Phoenix Suns for another year.

It seems the overwhelming theory among NBA fans is that an aging player should head for greener pastures or look for the best scenario in order to win a championship and retire on top, until that player is playing lights-out for his favorite team.

As someone who has watched a lot of Suns basketball, let me be the first to reiterate that the Suns need Hill, and Hill needs Phoenix.

The 39-year-old small forward seems on the cusp of retirement, but how can it be that he has only missed three games over the past three seasons in the desert?

Hill has been revitalized since coming to Phoenix back in 2007. The Suns' training staff has worked wonders on his beaten body and kept him on the court consistently, which has helped his production tremendously.

Hill's field-goal percentage (+0.6 FG%) and scoring increased (+1.9 PPG) from 2009-10 to 2010-11, at the tender age of 38.

It also doesn't hurt that Hill plays alongside one of the most unselfish point guards in league history in Steve Nash.

Nash and Hill have become great friends since playing together and are the two dominant, veteran voices in the Suns locker room throughout the season.

Hill loves Phoenix, and the Suns love him.

If he were to sign with a contender instead of returning to Phoenix or retiring, Hill would be giving up his home, his friends and the place that has made him so successful for the past four seasons.

Hill has a lot of basketball left in him considering how many games he missed in Orlando a decade ago, but the Phoenix Suns give him the best chance to succeed with whatever he has left.