Is Detroit better signing Ben Gordon and trading ’Rip’ Hamilton?

June 18 09

Has Joe Dumars lost his touch?

The Pistons’ head suit has always been a shrewd operator, finding under appreciated players and giving them opportunities to shine on Motown’s stage. His value approach turned Detroit into a perennial contender on-court, while modeling fiscal sanity in an era when franchises have spent like drunken sailors.

Something has changed. Dumars now seems intent on taking risks with the franchise he leads.

It started last November when he wrapped MVP candidate and classic table-setter Chauncey Billups in a bow and gave him to Denver. Sure, Allen Iverson’s ‘max’ contract will provide the cap flexibility to sign a big ticket free-agent, but few impact a team like Mr. Big Shot. Whatever name the Pistons bring in this summer, he can’t replace Billups.

Recent reports have Dumars preparing a multi-year offer at $11 million per season for pending free agent Ben Gordon. The combo guard is a solid scorer, but hardly worth opening the vaults for. Gordon, because of his size, struggles to create scoring opportunities and wouldn’t necessarily be an improvement over ‘Rip’ Hamilton.

Suppose, for a minute, Dumars does sign Gordon. Then he has to move Hamilton -even though the veteran signed a three-year pact for 33 million dollars. In less than a year, Detroit would’ve replaced Billups and Hamilton, one of the game’s top backcourts, with Stuckey and Gordon.

Dumars was wrong to trade Billups. Swapping Gordon for Hamilton is also risky.

Detroit’s current shooting guard has size, experience, and a defined position. All of which are valuable with a young, developing point guard like Stuckey.As mentioned earlier, Gordon is smallish, has less experience, and is a two trapped in a one’s body. To be fair, the former Sixth Man of the Year is younger then Hamilton and hungry to prove his worth.

The remodeling will continue this summer. Detroit’s future depends on Dumars making the right decisions, not gambling on players like Gordon.

Should Dumars sign Gordon and then trade Hamilton? Get at us in the comment box below and come back to HoopsVibe The Blog for further NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of bulls fan.

10 Comments: Is Detroit better signing Ben Gordon and trading ’Rip’ (...)

Posted by
jayhurst
on 07.1.2009

Hold up urmom or what ever ur f-----stupid a-------name is first of all im talking basketball bitch somethin u dont know s---about as I see, Why would you sign a guy that is 4 inches shorter than the guy u already have, he is a defensive liabilty, and he is a streaky shooter, he basicly is a shooting guard in a point guards body he is a good player but thats not what the pistons main focus should be it shouldve been there front court, but it doesnt matter cuz they signed him so urmom eats a d!$k beotch... .

Posted by
urmom
on 06.28.2009

jayhurst is a f-----dumba-------REAL TALK detroit needs to sign ben gordon and get rid of rip. but first they need to resign antonio mcdyess and pick up either boozer or turkoglu .

Posted by
k thay
on 06.26.2009

they should sign gordon and run him at point guard because stuckey sure can’t .

Posted by
the count
on 06.21.2009

that was the dumbest move that detroit made when they traded billups for inverson. time and time again iverson has proved he cannot win a championship as he is not a team player. .

Posted by
jAYHURST
on 06.19.2009

HELL NO! J.D. shouldnt make an impulse decision and sign Gordon and trade RIP yes Gordon had a good playoff and he helped carry his team in clutch situations in the Boston series, but and ther’s a big but he’s 4 inches shorter than RIP which creates a liability on the defensive end, also his jump shot isnt consistant and how can he and Stuckey co exist, there both scorers. If Joe pulls the trigger on that move I might never watch a pISTON GAME AGAIN REAL TALK. Joe, listen build around Tayshaun, RIP and Stuckey dont break the team all the way up bcuz u still pissed off oh and fire Micheal Curry bcuz no matter what talent u bring in there u will never win a championship with him as coach, u shoulda hired Avery Johnson what were u thinking, now u got Bill Laimbeer out there, what u gonna do now. .

Posted by

on 06.18.2009

I actually think Gordon would fit in well in Detroit. I am a die hard Pistons fan and I like the way he plays, he is an aggressive shooter, struggles a bit on defense due to size but makes up for it with sound fundamentals and intensity. I hated Iverson on the Pistons, he should go play overseas. Boozer would be a great addition, let sheed go back to Portland, we are done with his services. Stucky, Gordon, Prince, Boozer, who would be our 5th? .

Posted by
rzurzel
on 06.18.2009

I like Gordon-he’s good no doubt but like you said he struggles because of his size besides he plays better when off the bench not as a first 5 player. Maybe I’m wrong but last time when I saw Detroit’s game Hamilton was a starter so Detroit would get off the bench player instead of experienced starter and save no money with that exchange. Another BillupsLike move, .

Posted by
RobG
on 06.18.2009

Dumars is killing YOUR Pistons? Seriously? Has he done anything yet? I wonder if you were one of those guys that kept saying, blow it up, after the team lost to the Celtics last year. Joe went out and blew it up and now there is no faith.Yes, having Chauncey would be huge, but he is still going to be a 34 year old point guard. Isiah was retired by then. I say let Joe take his lumps and get on him when he misses the playoffs a few years in a row, not after 8 straight years in the playoffs, with six in the ECFinals.If a great one on one player like Gordon is in Dumars plans, then I think he has earned the benefit of the doubt, or would you like to have Billy McKinney and Rick Sund back? .

Posted by

on 06.18.2009

Dumars has and is ruining the Pistons. They should have let Wallace’s deal come off the books and kept Billups at all costs. I like Stuckey, but he’s a combo player, really. DUmars is RUINING MY pistons! .

Posted by
40inchleaper
on 06.18.2009

Ben Gordon has skills. but signing him this summer is just another A.I. in the roster. Joe Dumars should just focus on improving his frontcourt. Boozer had already expressed his interest in playing for the Pistons. i think Joe should entice Boozer to opt out of his Jazz contract. Secondly, because of the $18million and 8-10 million contracts of allen iverson and Sheed respectively, they could get the likes of Hedo. Rafer Alston is also on the brink of not being saved by Stan Van Gundy, he’s not as legit as Chauncey, but i think they are rebuilding so it’s ok for now .

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Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More

Is Detroit better signing Ben Gordon and trading ’Rip’ Hamilton?

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