According to Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News, The Pistons would send Rip Hamilton to the New Jersey Nets in part of the blockbuster trade that would also send Denver’s Carmelo Anthony and former Piston Chauncey Billups to the Nets as well. In return the Pistons would receive forward Troy Murphy and his expiring $11.9 million dollar contract.
Originally the Nets wanted the Pistons to include a first round pick in this year’s draft. However due to the possibility of that pick being a top ten pick the Pistons backed off the original trade proposal.
Because of the desperation the Nets have to acquire Carmelo they rescinded their request for the first round pick.
If you look at all the teams involved and what they would get, the Pistons again would receive forward Troy Murphy while the Nuggets would get guards Devin Harris and Anthony Morrow, two first-round picks and power forward Derrick Favors, the third pick in the 2010 draft. This is also a suspected 13 player deal so other players would be involved to make the money match on all sides.
There are also varying reports that say the Pistons would receive Nets big man Johan Petro who has two years remaining on a $13.5 million dollar contract.
The trade seems to weigh itself on two factors.
First, New Jersey would like Anthony to sign a 3 years $65 million dollar extension which Anthony wants to agree to under the current NBA collective bargaining agreement. Denver also wants the Nets to agree to including Al Harrington in the deal which New Jersey seems reluctant to do. This in turn may get one more team involved like the Portland Trailblazers who have a much more favorable opinion of Harrington then Denver does.
I really like this deal for the Pistons since it will net them a savings of $17 million dollars plus with Rip Hamilton’s contract coming off the books. It would also free up minutes for Tracy McGrady and Ben Gordon in the back court.
This would also seem like a good deal for New Jersey who would get a premier player in Anthony plus Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups who had tremendous success playing together in Detroit’s back court for so many years. However there are rumblings that Billups would want a buyout of his contract if traded from his hometown team in Denver. This may change if it reunites him with Rip Hamilton in New Jersey.
Source: Detroit News, Yahoo Sports, ESPN
