Richard Hamilton was surprisingly bought out by the Detroit Pistons earlier in the week as the veteran agreed to being paid $8 million in lieu of his team paying the total $21 million left on his contract. The man better known as Rip agreed to the lesser buyout so that he could pick his new team: the Chicago Bulls.
Rip Hamilton, Chicago Bulls A Good Fit Following Detroit Pistons Buyout
Hamilton could have disagreed to being bought out and either forced the Pistons to use the team’s amnesty provision, thereby allowing Detroit to wipe his contract from the salary cap (though Hamilton would have been paid the remainder of his contract). He’s instead made up the difference by agreeing to terms with the Chicago Bulls on a 3-year, $15 million contract.
Hamilton expects to be a factor in the playoffs for the Bulls, according to his comments in the Chicago Sun-Times.
"When you get into the playoffs, you know what I like to do, and I know what you like to do," Hamilton said when asked if he could lift the Bulls past the Boston Celtics and Heat. "It's a dogfight. Now we're going to see who is going to out-will each other. I've been there. I love it. I live for it. I'm excited to get back there."
For what it’s worth, Hamilton’s signing with the Bulls earned the Bulls solid marks in Tom Ziller’s Winners And Losers of NBA Free Agency post on Friday morning.
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