Is It Time to Go for Richard Hamilton?

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

It is that time of year again…that time of year where everybody from analysts, journalists, and fans alike come together on these boards and sites and start throwing out our ideas of what our favorite teams should be doing in the coming weeks.

While most of these ideas will never turn into anything solid, many of them do have a solid foundation and make a lot of sense.

I think it’s time for Richard ‘Rip’ Hamilton to be moved. I believe that this is a strong time to trade him, at a time where he would be an excellent player for another team but will fail to produce for the Detroit Pistons.

Rip is a very talented player, and possibly the best shooter in the league, especially from mid-range. However, he has a distinct inability to create his own shot or penetrate into the lane. While this has never proven to be much of an issue in the past, it is becoming ever so apparent now.

Rip will give 20+ points each night consistently, as long as he is on a team with players who are greatly skilled at running and offense and ball distribution. He needs teammates who can quickly learn his sweet spots, block out for him, and provide him with the ball at the right moment for him to shoot.

In a system like this, he would flourish. However, the Pistons no longer have this system due to this past year’s trade of Rip’s former backcourt mate Chauncey Billups, a key playmaker for the Pistons during their recent run of success, and an important piece to the Denver Nuggets team who made it to the Western Conference Finals.

 Detroit has a lot of faith in third-year guard Rodney Stuckey, although they are starting to doubt whether or not he has the ability to become a full-time point guard. With the emergence of Will Bynum, they now have two proven guards who have yet to establish their ability to run an offense. I believe that there is a chance for either of them to become good playmakers, but even if that does happen, it will not be in time for Rip to have any true relevance as a Piston. However, he still does have great value here, if only as a trade commodity.

 First off, his highest trade value would have to be to a team with an excellent passer running the point. Thus, you would have to determine which teams have great playmakers and could truly utilize Hamilton’s unique abilities. The teams with playmakers that fit the mold, in my opinion, are as follows (keep in mind that this isn’t an actual ranking of the teams, just a list:

1. New Orleans Hornets
2. Utah Jazz
3. Phoenix Suns
4. Los Angelos Clippers
5. Denver Nuggets
6. San Antonio Spurs
7. Dallas Mavericks
8. Philadelphia 76ers
9. Orlando Magic
10. New Jersey Nets

 Basically what I did with this list is compile a list of teams that have point guards with the capability of putting the ball into Hamilton’s hands, not necessarily the best point guards. After this, you must take into account which teams should not be talked to about Hamilton because there is nobody of his value for our team to receive in return, or they would not have a good use or need for him.

  The New Orleans Hornets would be one possible destination for Hamilton that I would entertain along with other fans, along with making sense for Pistons management. Pistons GM Joe Dumars has flirted with the idea of signing or trading for Tyson Chandler in the past, and with it looking like Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess won’t return, he will need to consider all options of skilled big men. With Chandler’s 7-1 height, large frame, and defensive strengths, he will be able to provide some good defense against the likes of Dwight Howard and Shaq in the East, along with Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowitzki in the West. He helps fill the void that will be left by departing Wallace and McDyess, will offer a defensive presence that might make it more appealing for a quality front-court free agent to sign with Detroit, and will not disrupt any of Dumars’ salary cap options as Chandler and Hamilton have practically the same contract. 

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