Will we ever see him again in a uniform? Grant Hill–remember him?–has been traveling with the Orlando Magic lately and says his ankle is fully healed. Sound familiar?
“The ankle is 100 percent healed,” said Hill. “Even my doctor is excited now. Before, even when I was playing, it was only 70 or 80 percent healed and supposed to be getting better. Now they look at the tests and it’s 100 percent for the first time.”
But Hill hasn’t played any basketball yet and most of his workouts have been in the swimming pool. He claims to have full range of motion in his ankle for the first time since his injury two years ago.
Left is right: The Mavericks could field the second all-lefty lineup with Adrian Griffin and Raef LaFrentz at forward, Wang Zhizhi at center and Nick Van Exel and Avery Johnson in the backcourt. The only time an all-lefty lineup has been featured was when the 1977-78 Nets had Kim Hughes at center, Tim Bassett and Al Skinner at forward and Dave Wohl and Bubbles Hawkins at guard.
Salary drive: Cavs free-agent swingman Ricky Davis is finishing well, averaging 23.7 points in his last 10 games. But it’s not that big of a finish.
“He’s on his way to becoming the next Michael Jordan,” said Cleveland coach John Lucas. “He has the potential to be a star, and I hope it’s a star in Cleveland.”
The Cavs are Davis’ third team in four seasons and he’s not even a starter.
“Comparing me to Michael Jordan is a compliment to the fullest,” Davis said. “That’s a strong, powerful name. If I’m going to live up to that, it’ll just be a matter of me being focused doing what I have to do every night.”
Sounds simple enough.
Artest update: The Ron Artest meltdowns continue in Indiana. Coach Isiah Thomas admitted he spent an entire halftime last week trying to calm Artest after Artest beat on a scorer’s table, flung a water bottle and resin bag and cursed in the huddle.
“I spent most of the halftime with him,” Thomas said. “I explained to him when you get yourself in such a state it affects the team. He said he was under control and ready, but I said, `Yeah, but the effect you just had on the game, it’s not just about you, it’s about what you’re doing to your team.'”
With Al Harrington returning from injury next season and Jonathan Bender improving, the talk is the Pacers may try to deal Artest this summer.
Crying Wolves: The feud between Kevin Garnett and Wally Szczerbiak resurfaced again last week when TNT commentator Danny Ainge claimed he heard Garnett accuse Szczerbiak of being selfish. Garnett denied it. With the Timberwolves without a home-court advantage and facing probable first-round elimination again, they are expected to look to deal Szczerbiak, and last summer’s near-trade for the Bulls’ Marcus Fizer could emerge again.
Sonic boom: Seattle management was stunned last week as the team was concluding its surprising run to the playoffs that forward Vin Baker, now a lost reserve, reiterated he wants to play for the Knicks.
“I’d love to play in New York,” Baker said. “It would be a great situation for me, as well as the Knicks. A low-post presence is what Latrell [Sprewell] and Allan [Houston] need. I think a change would be good for me and New York is where I want to be. I’d be back home with my family.”
Seattle is 25-28 when Baker has played this season and 19-8 when he is out.
Jump shots: Looks like the Trail Blazers are rounding into playoff form, with seven technical fouls against the Mavs and Spurs in pressure games last week. Rasheed Wallace and Scottie Pippen were ejected against Dallas. Portland finished the season 0-8 on the road against the top four teams in the West. . . . Houston’s Steve Francis on the small crowds at home this season: “It’s been tough. Then again, when you think about it, our ticket prices are pretty high.” . . . Phoenix coach Frank Johnson and Golden State coach Brian Winters are expected to be back next season.
