While the Pacers are now strong and will be one of the Cavaliers' main contenders in the playoffs, there are trade-offs to everything.

Eventually, the Cavaliers agreed to the Pacers' offer.

The Cavaliers sent Lance Stephenson to the Pacers a protected first-round pick (lotto protected).

The Cavaliers and Pacers trade is done, the trade deadline is approaching indefinitely, and other deals are being made one after another.

The Nuggets sent Nene to the Wizards in exchange for potential interior Javier McGee and Nick Young.

The Spurs sent away Richard Jefferson in a three-way trade to get veteran Stephen Jackson.

The Hornets and Kings made a whistle-blowing deal, with the Hornets sending Cousins to the Pelicans for a 2012 first-round pick and a number of additions.

……

By the time the trade deadline passed, the seething league finally quieted down.

The day after the trade deadline, Grant Hill and the Rockets reached a buyout agreement.

Basically, for a contract of 6 million, Hill only needs less than 2 million.

For him, at this stage of his career, money is not the main thing for him.

And immediately after reaching a buyout, he signed a veteran base salary contract worth 1.44 million a year with the Cavaliers.

After the signing was made, Hill's former teammates also congratulated him.

"Bless my friend Grant, the saga deserves a happy ending." Nash tweeted as soon as he heard of Hill's signing.

"He's a legend and now he's finally going to have a chance to chase his championship." Pistons general manager Joe Dumas said.

"Grant is the most talented player I've ever met, and signing with the Cavaliers was the best option for him." Maddie, a newcomer to the Suns, said.

"People always say who will be Jordan's successor or something, but in my eyes, the only one who can become or surpass Michael is Grant, who is really brilliant and can't be described in words, and now, he has the best opportunity." Jerry Tankhouse, a former All-Star who was teammates with Hill for three years with the Pistons, commented.

……

Grant Hill is a somewhat familiar but unfamiliar player to many fans around the world, because his glory was before the 21st century, and at that time, the NBA's global promotion was really not very good.

But in the United States, he is almost a household name, and perhaps only the fact that he was elected as an All-Star voter in his rookie season can most intuitively express the love of American fans for him.

Lightning-fast first step, unsolvable breakthroughs, mastery of all basketball skills, and of course, the most important point, playing handsome and violent enough.

At that time, when Jordan was retiring, Stern intended to appoint a player to succeed Jordan and become the face of the league, and Hill was this person.

The title of "Jordan's successor" also comes from this, and it is the alliance king.

In his rookie season, he averaged 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.77 steals per game, sharing the best rookie with Jason Kidd.

In his second season, he averaged 20.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game, and was once again elected as the All-Star voting king.

In his third year as a rookie, Hill reached the peak of his career, averaging 21.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game, second only to Michael Jordan and Karl Malone in the MVP selection, and a triple-double of 34 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists in the season.

Everything is going in the direction that everyone expects and expects.

It's just that fate played a little joke on him later.

In the first round of the 2000 playoffs against the 76ers, he insisted on playing with an ankle sprain, and as a result, the ankle injury worsened indefinitely and he couldn't even play.

And his career has changed 180°, he was traded by the Pistons, moved to Orlando, played less than 30 games in 6 years with the Magic for 6 years, played less than 30 games in 4 years, never averaged 20 points per game, and never recovered from an ankle injury that accompanied him throughout his career.

Although the sun has been tossing and turning for a second spring, the "Jordan successor" and the championship have completely lost their chances with him.

"Jealous talent" is the best description of Hill's entire career, and it also makes everyone sigh.

This is also the reason why the signing of a veteran attracts so many people's attention.

Hill's medical was completed the next day, just before the game against the Pistons, Tang Tian met the legendary veteran in Detroit.

With sunken eyes, gray hair on sideburns, and an embarrassing beard, this is a 39-year-old veteran.

There aren't many players in history who are still playing in the NBA at this age, and they're not point guards who can play well.

"Grant, welcome." Tang Tian greeted Hill with a smile.

"Coach!" Hill hugged Tang Tian with some excitement, and the Cavaliers contacted him between his buyouts, which showed that they took him very seriously, not to mention sending away a potential newcomer to sign him.

"That's your closet, say hello to your teammates." Tang Tian said to Hill with a smile.

As a veteran who has been in the league for 16 years, he naturally knows a lot of people.

"Hey, Vince!"

"Hey, Brother Grant! Long time no see! ”

"Haven't we seen each other in two months?"

"Haha!"

"Chris, I'll just say, if you talk about Cleveland, you're definitely more comfortable than Charlotte, right?"

"Well, Sean, long time no see."

……

Hill was greeting the Cavaliers players, and Tang Tian and Casey were smiling as they left the locker room.

"Do you want to put Grant on the activation list?" Casey thought of it and asked directly.

"Come on, he needs the stage here." Tang Tian nodded.

Hill's replacement of Stephenson is not just a replacement for a player, Hill's ability and experience can fully squeeze into the Cavaliers' rotation.

Of course, the premise is to inspect the goods.

After the Pistons sent four of the Pistons away, they have missed the playoffs for three consecutive years, and this season has basically given up early, and now the team is mainly training newcomers, Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight, and Rodney Starkey are the team's current core lineup.

The economic downturn, coupled with the team's poor record, may be one of the motivations for fans who still come to Auburn Hills Palace to see Grant Hill again tonight.

The game of the night started quickly, Monroe was crushed at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends in the face of Yao Ming, and Starkey, who had infinite hopes, was blown up in all aspects in the face of Paul.

Five minutes into the third quarter, the Cavaliers had already led the Pistons by as many as 25 points, 71-46.

At this moment, Tang Tian got up and called Grant Hill and motioned for him to come on the field to replace Jimmy Butler.