Empty the Bench

Something’s gotta give in Detroit, and that something is one of the last remaining pieces of Detroit’s 2004 NBA Championship team leaving town: Richard Hamilton, who will soon be traded.

I think. He has to be, right?

Despite reports that GM Joe Dumars has stated he has no intentions of trading Hamilton, it doesn’t make much sense to have two All-Star caliber shooting guards capable of playing 34 – 36 minutes a night (and getting paid like it) at the same position. Both were their respective team’s leading scorers last season (Gordon 20.7 for Chicago, Hamilton 18.3 for Detroit), both revel in the role of being the go-to guy on the floor, both have a well-documented history of not happily accepting a sixth-man role off the bench.

Though Gordon is a much higher-character guy than Allen Iverson, the last thing Dumars and the Pistons need is another backcourt controversy: as you recall, it was first Hamilton, then Iverson, who publicly bemoaned their demotions to the bench in favor of the other. I can’t imagine that Gordon made the move to Detroit to be a backup, nor can I see Hamilton suddenly having a change of heart and stepping aside to make room for Gordon in the starting lineup.

Something’s gotta give.

The Pistons have decent backcourt depth, with late-season surprise Will Bynum backing up Rodney Stuckey at the point and improving ‘07 first-round pick Arron Afflalo at the off-guard position; another veteran backup could be brought in on the cheap, which would probably happen regardless of what happens with Hamilton.

Rip Hamilton & Ben Gordon Photo Credit: Icon SMI

There is still a market for the well-conditioned Hamilton, who at age 31 should still be plenty effective for the duration of his three-year extension, which kicks in for the 2010-11 season. That said, he’s already hit his peak and last season was only the second time in his 10-year career that he’s played in less than 70 regular-season games (67). He’s a luxury this team can no longer afford: though standing at 6-11, newly signed Charlie Villanueva is not a natural center, and Kwame Brown is not a starter.

Dumars has options, too, as our man Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports recently noted:

The signing of Gordon, 26, could make another former UConn player, Richard Hamilton, expendable in a trade. Hamilton, 31, could be used to bring back another low-post presence: perhaps Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer, Los Angeles Clippers’ center Chris Kaman or New Orleans Hornets center Tyson Chandler.

ESPN’s Ric Bucher says on Twitter that Rip for Boozer was “a hot rumor, but that got shot down before it left the blocks.” Still, you know Utah isn’t happy that Boozer chose to stick around and make resigning Paul Millsap a lot more difficult; I wouldn’t totally discount the possibility. According to ESPN’s Trade Machine, a straight-up swap would work financially.

Chandler makes more sense, though, given Villanueva’s general lack of defensive prowess. Though injury concerns linger, at 27 years old Chandler fits the mold of the Pistons’ rebuilding plan and would give the team much-needed rebounding, shot-blocking ability, and overall grit in the middle. Last season was basically a wash due to a foot problem, but in 2007-08 he lasted the whole season, averaging 11.8 points (62% FG), 11.8 boards, and over 1 block per in 35+ minutes a night. In Detroit he wouldn’t be asked to do much more than rebound, play defense, and score easy gimmes–all his strong suits. Hamilton for Chandler, again, apparently would work.

Those are just two of many trade options Dumars figures to have in about a week when Gordon and Villanueva officially sign on the dotted line. Once they do, it’s trade Hamilton or bust.

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