Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady's partnership in the Orlando Magic had a chance to be special. Unfortunately, it didn't work out the way they wanted it to be.
In his appearance on NBA TV's Open Court, Hill opened up about his ill-fated stint with the Magic and what was supposed to be the start of a brilliant on-court partnership between him and McGrady.
"It could have been something really special."@realgranthill33 on what could have been with him and Tracy McGrady on the Magic. #OpenCourt pic.twitter.com/ytc0q7BQ3G
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 30, 2019
Orlando recruited Hill in the summer of 2000 via sign-and-trade with the Detroit Pistons. The team was hoping to pair him up with McGrady, who signed with the Magic as a free agent after three years with the Toronto Raptors. However, Hill was hampered with ankle injuries and ended up playing just 47 games in his first three seasons with the team.
Hill didn't play during the 2003-04 campaign, which turned out to be McGrady's final season with the Magic. T-Mac was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2004 in a seven-player deal, officially putting an end to what could only be said as a failed experiment.
Hill averaged 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game in his first five seasons with the Pistons, making his signing with the Magic to pair up with McGrady really exciting. McGrady, back then, is coming off a breakout season during which he put up 15.4 points per contest.
Fans could only imagine what would have happened had Hill stayed healthy, and sure enough, it's one of the biggest ‘what ifs' in NBA history.
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