I mean to be honest I’m at the point right now where I would be willing to give him away for a pack of gum, or even a solid high five would do.
Richard Hamilton could have been a hero in Detroit sports lore.
He was an integral part of the 2004 championship team, and many considered him to be quite the fan favorite. His non-stop hustle was endearing to many of the hardworking fans of the Pistons. To watch him weave and roll his way around picks and screens was a thing of beauty, and he was easily recognized as having one of the best mid-range jump shots in the league.
One could argue that the pinnacle of his career was when Larry Brown pulled the starters out in the final minutes of the decisive game 5 win against the Lakers. Hamilton walked off the court with his trademark mask held high over his head.
Somehow he was able to make a protective mask look cool. I tried it, and it didn’t work so well for me.
Hamilton didn’t just walk off that court with style though, more importantly he walked off as an NBA Champion.
He was at the top of the basketball world.
Flash forward seven years. We all know the story so I’m going to spare you all the dirty details, but let’s just say it hasn’t been all to pretty. Hamilton has gone from a fan favorite and team leader, to a discontent cancer on a team filled with young and impressionable players.
That’s a recipe for disaster if you’re asking me.
If you remember back to the days when the Allen Iverson experience brought his skills to Detroit, or to the casino depending on who you are talking to, than you might just remember Richard Hamilton’s reaction to being asked to come off the bench…
At first he came off acting like the consummate team player. Of course he said all the right things to the media, and the fans were at least geared up to finally see a new look Piston team.
That attitude lasted what, a few weeks if that?
And, that was the public attitude keep in mind. I can’t imagine what Hamilton was like outside of the public eye. He whined, complained, talked about how he was just not “comfortable” coming off of the bench.
Richard Hamilton became a diva real fast.
But, enough of the past, let’s get back to that flash forward.
Joe Dumars spent a lot of money in bringing in Ben Gordon a few years ago. Gordon was a star on a Chicago team that almost knocked the powerhouse Celtics out of the Playoffs in the first round, and I think anybody who has a pulse can remember his epic shooting performances in all those overtime games.
Ben Gordon is an incredible asset coming off of anybody’s bench, but if you honestly assess the Detroit Pistons at this point and time I don’t think it is a stretch to say that he should be a starter. Can you imagine the firepower you could have at your shooting guard position with Gordon starting and Hamilton coming off of the bench?
We saw the combination happen once over in “oh Canada”, and the result was an absolute blowout of the Toronto Raptors and Hamilton’s best game of the season.
Unfortunately Hamilton reverted back to his old ways, and the diva act came back in full force.
Hamilton was kicked out of three games this season alone, and has finally been benched by coach, John Kuester, for what looks to be an indefinite period of time.
I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable saying that I am pretty sure we might not ever see Richard Hamilton on the court as a Piston again. The only problem is, nobody seems to want him!
The possible three way trade between Denver, New Jersey and Detroit really sparked some hope that Hamilton would finally be able to part ways with the Pistons. It never ended up happening though, so I can only wonder what the next move is going to be.
Dumars is without a doubt shopping Hamilton around, but with his recent behavior and declining play, is there really anybody out there who would be willing to take him on?
I look at teams around the league who could really use a two-guard, and there is really no shortage. The problem is that most self-respecting general managers aren’t going to put themselves on the line, and possibly throw their head coach under the bus for an older player with declining skills and an attitude problem.
Joe Dumars better figure something out soon though. Hamilton is just riding the pine, coming down with “the flu”, and possibly poisoning his locker room, and he is making some good money doing it!
So, my question for you is:
Do you want Richard Hamilton?
Andrew Kulha is also a contributor to BleacherReport.com and TheSportsJury.com. Find the original article over at TheSportsJury.com!
