http://theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030716/NEWS/307160410/ 1011/SPORTS04 ORLANDO -- The NBA denied the Orlando Magic salary cap relief for the injured and expensive Grant Hill. The Magic confirmed the news Tuesday, less than a day before teams can start signing free agents. The medical exemption would've been worth about $4.9 million -- approximately one-third of the $13.3 million due to Hill next season. "We were surprised and disappointed by the league's decision," said John Weisbrod, the Magic's chief operating officer. "Nonetheless, we must abide by it and we will not let it deter our efforts to build the best basketball team possible." Orlando still has the $4.9 million mid-level exemption. The Magic is expected to use it to help sign free agent forward Juwan Howard to a contract worth at least $28 million over five years. Considering the medical history of Hill, limited to 47 games the past three seasons, it was seen as certain that the NBA would grant the exemption. Tim Frank, NBA senior director of basketball communications, said the league would not offer comment on rulings about medical exceptions. "We don't really detail the reasons of why or why not teams get the exception," Frank told the Florida Today newspaper in Melbourne. Hill sustained a stress fracture to his left ankle during the 2000 playoffs while playing for Detroit. The Magic still signed him to a $93-million, seven-year contract that offseason. Since that injury, he's had four operations. The last, on March 18, was the most complex. Doctors had to break his heel to better align the ankle. Hill's foot became infected during the recovery, resulting in a weeklong hospital stay. Because Hill is just now beginning to put weight on his foot again, the Magic feel there is no realistic way that he can play. "It will be very difficult for Grant to play this season," Magic coach Doc Rivers said last month. "You know Grant's going to do everything he can to make it back, but it really is unrealistic for him to play next year. And that's really too bad." --

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