Bring Rip Hamilton to the Pacers
Rip Hamilton (Detroit Free Press)
While I’m busy taking credit for greasing the wheels to get Zach Randolph a home in Memphis to drop his nightly 20-10′s, I might as well try to get another ball rolling: Bringing Rip Hamilton to my Indiana Pacers.
Since agreeing to a five-year, $50 million deal with Ben Gordon, the Pistons have to be — if not actively shopping Rip — at least listening to trade offers for the 31-year-old who plays the same position as Gordon. Not only is he one of the strongest remaining links to the Wallace/Chauncey-era squad that Joe Dumars is steadily ushering out the door (you think Tayshaun Prince didn’t notice they picked up three small forwards in the draft?), Rip is also a potential powder keg given the way he almost started a team mutiny against Michael Curry and probably won’t react well as soon as Gordon starts taking his minutes and shots.
Here’s the deal that works: Rip ($11.6M) to Indiana for Mike Dunleavy Jr. ($9.7M) and Travis Diener ($1.7M).
In Dunleavy, the Pistons get a two-guard who makes sense as a bench guy behind Gordon, who can also play the three when need be. Little Dun can shoot, his basketball IQ is high, and he only has two more years left on his contract whereas Hamilton has four. The only problem is his problematic knee, which cost him most of this season. Diener is just there to make the salaries work, but isn’t a bad third PG behind Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum.
What’s in it for the Pacers? They get a certified All-Star as a #2 option next to Danny Granger, a shooter/scorer who is one of the best-conditioned athletes in the League and blends into their up-tempo system. And while Rip isn’t a great defender on his own, he at least brings an on-court knowledge of team defense and the right rotations, plus a tougher defensive attitude than anyone on the team currently. There’s a good chance Rip continues to sulk because he’s not on a contending team, but that could very well be outweighed by the chip on his shoulder to show the Pistons they gave up on him too early, plus the fact that he’ll be a solid #2 in Indiana as opposed to fighting for #2 or #3 in Detroit.
The Pacers love Brandon Rush as their two-guard of the future, but I see him more as an off-the-bench contributor, at least for the next couple of years. Bring Rip in now and this could be a playoff team in 2010.
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July 2nd, 2009 at 6:06 pm
ProphetGK says:
Agreed. But where do you think Prince might go?
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Tony says:
The Pistons might listen to a deal that included a center. They don’t need to trade a shooting guard for another one. Troy Murphy, perhaps? Even that is lopsided, as Murphy is an injury risk, but at least the deal makes some sense. The Pistons “might” also be interested in Foster, Nesterovic and Hibbert. I.E They need size and rebounding.
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Stu Andrews says:
as a pacers fan, i love the idea..probably the closest thing to having reggie back on the team..
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:24 pm
SK says:
They can do better than Dunleavy. The guy is too injury prone, and it doesn’t really solve their problem at center, which they really should address. If the Pacers are willing to part with either Foster or Hibbert, then it’s a possibility.
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:27 pm
vcn says:
.except for 23 and 24, 1s and 5s make the team…period
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Austin Burton says:
Detroit can then package Dunleavy in a deal to the Clippers for one of their centers. Pretty sure Senior Dun would be talked into a lopsided trade.
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Kobeef says:
Austin, this is probably the biggest homer trade I’ve seen in months. Your man love for the Pacers is blocking your ability to realize that no GM in his right mind would trade Rip for Mike Dunleavy.
Brandon Rush is probably better than Rip (who is closer to RIP than Rip at this point in his career).
Also, I don’t think Dumars is trading Rip. He was part of the reason that Chuck V and Ben agreed to contracts in Detroit so quickly (all UConn Alumni) and part of the reason Curry got fired.
The main problem with Indiana is that the basketball Jesus is not a “General Management” genius. The team is going nowhere, fast and I can’t see it changing until Dunleavy and Murphy play out their contracts.
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Austin Burton says:
@Kobeef — Of course it’s a homer trade. I’m trying to make my favorite team better. After that, I lost you once you said Rush is probably better than Rip. No sale on that one.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:01 pm
sh!tfaced says:
“…I don’t think Dumars is trading Rip. He was part of the reason that Chuck V and Ben agreed to contracts in Detroit so quickly (all UConn Alumni) and part of the reason Curry got fired.”
so now maybe there’s a chance the pistons will probably get jim calhoun as their next coach? LOL.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:03 pm
the cynic says:
Brandon Rush will be out of the league within 5 years
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:21 pm
IG says:
Dime a little slow today…Artest to the Lakers!
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Tim says:
why trade Rip Hamilton when you can use a 3 guard lineup and do some damage? They finally got the second coming of Vinnie Johnson…
Now they just need a center to rebound and play some low post D.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:28 pm
dmitry of jersey says:
good trade in theory, but it assumes Dunleavy will actually be a legit NBA player again after all those knee problems.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Jordon says:
ARTEST TO THE LAKERS
http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/60289/20090702/artest_to_sign_with_lakers/
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Sanpitch says:
how about rip to utah for boozer.
utah matches whatever millsap gets and makes millsap their 4 and trade boozer for rip straight up. i think salaries match.
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Tim says:
what trade rip and get Boozer to play where they just signed Charlie V? they need a center now another PF…
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:51 am
len says:
the pistons will suck next year
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:40 am
ramon says:
what niggas you stupid or what rip belongs in detroit you are just of bunch of indiana red neck white fans trying to get a all star a but we all ready whooped your asses at our home town so fuck up MY NIGGASSS
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Kingsley says:
Austin,
Instead of signing Rip, I suggest sign and trade deal for S.Marion instead (trading Dunleavy to Canada instead)…
Then, we fill 2 needs at once:
1. someone who is underrated on defense and can guard multiple positions other than C
2. an athletic PF with good conditioning and won’t stutter the growth of Brandon
Then, I am pretty sure we will have a much better defensive team next year.
July 8th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Arena says:
Ramon. You are a COMPLETE moron! The pistons are gonna suck. Rip is over the hill and only has 2 maybe 3 years of effective play left…us rednecks (as you called us) have forgotten more about basketball then you will ever know. We don’t want RIP, we don’t cheer fir gangsters and thugs here. Your beloved pistons look and act like the C block at the county jail. If that’s your heros, good luck being stuck in economic poverty for the rest of your life, and good luck ducking all the child support warrants you’re sure to accumulate…as for basketball, pacers are a wing player with a defensive mindset short of being a playoff team. Shawn Marion would be a great fit.
July 8th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Arena says:
Marion would be a good fit, but he’s a free agent. No need to rush a Dunleavy trade. The kid can play and has great basketball IQ. Let’s see how his recovery works out. Latest buzz is he may feel better than ever before. I also heard people mention injury prone about Mike, check the records this is his first substantial injury his entire basketball career. Let’s not forget that he was second in voting for NBAs most improved player in the 07-08 season, and let’s see how he plays when he gets back. Then in two years we’ll get his ridiculous salary (along with Murphys) under control (thanks golden state)….I dought we’ll get Marion, but the latest buzz is Dallas needs a third team to faciltate a sign and trade with Toronto. We’ve made recent trades with both of those organizations, maybe we can get out of Tinsley in the process. He is the last of the thug era Pacers that drove Reggie into retirement 2 years early….I’m sure Ramon is a big fan of Tinsleys.