Grant Hill Says He is ‘Very Close’ to Returning

Grant Hill … remember him? Sure you do. He’s close to re-joining the LA Clippers; very close says the veteran forward. Per the OC Register: “Do-it-all veteran Grant Hill smiled and said he’s got a January return in mind. ‘I just want to get out there and help and play,’ Hill said. ‘Hopefully, I’ll improve things if that’s possible.’ Hill hasn’t played since the Clippers final game in China during the preseason because of a bone bruise in his right knee. ‘I’m very close, so I’m excited about that,’ Hill said. When he returns, Hill will not likely cut into minutes for Matt Barnes. [Head coach Vinny Del Negro] said he envisions the two players on the court together. ‘We got a little taste of it, even though it was early, in China. That second game out there, we were switching everything,’ Barnes said. ‘Lamar (Odom) played center, Grant played the four and I played the three. We switched every single pick. I think that causes havoc. There are no open looks when a team is capable of defending like that, and I think we are.’ Judging by that game, back-up forward Ronny Turiaf could see his minutes cut once Hill comes back. Chauncey Billups is also still out with peroneal tendonitis in his left foot. There’s no timetable for his return.”