The idea of the Pistons trading Richard Hamilton is nothing new. Detroit has been trying to get rid of him and his contract for a while now, but the right deal either has not come along or just simply hasn't worked out before everything was made official.
While it's not clear if Hamilton will be dealt on Thursday night during the 2011 NBA Draft, rumors suggest that the Pistons will definitely have an opportunity to get rid of him. From ESPN's Chad Ford:
The Cleveland Cavaliers have the No. 1 and No. 4 picks in the draft. But will they also snag another lottery pick?
Sources say the Cavs have been very actively trying to do just that, with a massive $14.5 million trade exception as the device. The offer? Give us your pick and we'll take back a bad contract into our trade exception, which permits the Cavs to take back salary of more than $14 million.
While I'm sure the Pistons would love to shed the $12.5 million owed to Hamilton next season, I can't see them giving up the eighth pick to do so, especially with an offer of two first-round picks potentially being out there.