Comments on: Ben Gordon Won’t Be Paid $55 Million to Back Up Richard Hamilton

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:17:05 +0000

Rip’s gotta be gone, agreed. Maybe that’s why Collins is off the table?

By: Brendan K.

Brendan K. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:27:08 +0000

I’m pretty convinced that they’ll survive in a playoff-level form for a little while because the East is weak, but this looks a lot like a 1-and-done team for years to come unless they add some crucial pieces. We’ll see if your 3 team deal happens (and you’re right, that could work.)

By: Brian Spencer

Brian Spencer — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:58:35 +0000

Hmmm… Brendan, I’m not sure I agree that the Pistons are “in the woods.” Let’s wait and see, but I think both of these signings will prove to be good ones–at reasonable prices–in the long run. As for NOLA, like I said above I basically agree but think a third-team facilitator could come into play if Chandler is a guy the Pistons think would fit (and I’m pretty sure he would).

Thanks for the find, Bryn.

By: Brendan K.

Brendan K. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:31:45 +0000

I can’t imagine that after NOLA was willing to trade Chandler for cap relief, they’d take on $10 mill for 5 years.

A team like New Jersey might be able to do a deal with contracts like Bobby Simmons’ (putting the Pistons into a mid-term rebuilding mode) but that seems unlikely too.

I’m willing to give Dumars enough credit that I think he’s smart enough to make it all work, but it’s gonna take a lot more wandering to get out of the woods from here…

By: Bryn Johnson

Bryn Johnson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:23:39 +0000

irregardless is not a word.

By: Brian Spencer

Brian Spencer — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:18:47 +0000

Well… that’s a fair point. Honestly, with the Hornets in cost-cutting mode I’m not sure they’d even take Rip’s $12+ million per contract on, or that Dumars would be willing to trade Hamilton straight up for Chandler; he might be able to find a better deal. Of course, bringing another partner to the trading table might help facilitate Detroit’s needs in the middle, New Orleans’ needs in their pocketbook, and another’s needs at SG. Either way, I just can’t see the Pistons hanging onto Hamilton and going into the season with such a gaping hole in the middle.

As for Gordon/Villanueva, Andrew said it best: would you trade Chauncey Billups for Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva?

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:51:07 +0000

If Chandler was available for free at the deadline, it sucks to give up an all-star guard for him now, no? The new guys had better be worth it…