Richard Hamilton is one of the few remaining members of the Detroit Pistons championship squad in 2004, but it apparently will not be that way for long. The man better known as Rip, a 12-year NBA veteran, is apparently on his way to being released by the team as training camp opens this weekend.
Hamilton has been waived by the Pistons and will be bought out of his contract, according to the Detroit Free Press. The cut is apparently not going to happen under the new amnesty clause, which would allow the team to wipe his contract from the books entirely, because the two sides have apparently agreed to a buyout for a lesser amount.
The Pistons have said that they don't plan to use the amnesty clause, but it would seem that would have been a better option for Hamilton as he would have received the full remaining amount of his salary -- $12,500,000 for the upcoming season and at least $9 million guaranteed for 2012-13. By accepting a buyout, however, Hamilton will be able to choose his new team on his own rather than going through the amnesty bidding process.
The Pistons have already re-signed Tayshaun Prince and Jonas Jerebko to larger than average deals. Aside from Prince, Hamilton was the lone member still on the Pistons roster from the 2003-04 NBA championship team.
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