Hill Workout, Arenas Update

Arizona junior forward Jordan Hill completed his workout a few hours ago and you can check out my story in tomorrow's paper. I'll get back to Hill a little later, but I wanted to share a little information with you guys about your favorite Gilbert.

I never got the chance to run into Gilbert Arenas at the NBA Finals, but Washington Times reporter Mike Jones stumbled into him in the hallway during Game 4. Arenas told Jones that he plans on spending this summer working out with the famed trainer Tim Grover, who worked with Michael Jordan and helped Dwyane Wade resurrect his career last season and finish third in MVP voting behind LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

Although I didn't get Arenas, I did talk for a while with Grover, who was at every game working exclusively for Finals MVP Bryant. Grover told me that he expects Arenas to come to his Attacks Athletics facility in Chicago in about two weeks. Arenas has committed to coming and Grover said while he hasn't seen Arenas's medical records, he estimated that it will take at least a two month commitment for Arenas to get the necessary training required. He added that several stars overcoming left knee injuries, including Tracy McGrady and Jermaine O'Neal, are expected to be in Chicago this summer.

The Wizards support Arenas's decision to train elsewhere and will likely send someone up to Chicago to keep an eye on him, which is similar to what the Heat did with Wade last season. With Arenas already back to his playing weight from five years ago, maybe Grover can help him return to that all-star, all-NBA form again. And, given how Wade bounced back to the form that made him Finals MVP in 2006, this might be the best move for Arenas, who hasn't had much luck with his rehabilitation since injuring his left knee in April 2007.

As for Hill, he has been working out this summer at Attacks Athletics in Chicago. In one month with Grover's team, Hill was able to generate enough strength to bench press 185 pounds 11 times at the draft combine. Before going to Grover, Hill said he may have done it once. Hill is a solid athlete with a decent jump shot, but based on what I could see in his workout, he remains a bit raw. He will take some time to develop, but he is considered to have upside, even though he turns 22 next month.

Of course, the Wizards have had some success with another Arizona product the past few years. Hill said Arenas spoke with him on Thursday before his workout with the Wizards.

"I hope I can be here with him. He came over there and hollered at me," Hill said of Arenas. "Cool dude."

By Michael Lee |  June 18, 2009; 3:22 PM