Description: My name is Jake and this is everything I'm into.
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When Grant Hill made the decision to leave the Detroit Pistons and join the Orlando Magic in the summer of 2000, it was crushing. The idea of him leaving loomed over Pistons fans for an entire season, in a time where we weren’t able to get up to the second free agency updates from Woj or Shams on Twitter.
I first heard the news on our local TV station during the 11pm news. I was staying over a friend’s house that night and I went to the bathroom and started to cry. I was 17 and Hill was my favorite player on the Pistons. My sports fan heart was broken. Growing up in Michigan, the Pistons became my favorite team and all I cared about was them getting good and winning again. With Hill, it still hadn’t happened, but without him, they were doomed.
Hill was set to join Tracy McGrady in Orlando and the two were about to take the NBA by storm. A month after the initial announcement, the deal became official. The Pistons and Magic agreed to a sign and trade so that Hill could get the most lucrative contract possible. Regardless, Hill was gone, so this got the Pistons something in return and Hill more money.