Rip Hamilton’s issues with the Pistons were clearly with the front office

It was clear Rip Hamilton wasn’t happy as a Piston the last few seasons. What was unclear, however, was who his anger was directed at. The above video from the Oakland Press should clear things up. Some have suggested that he was upset with the coaching staff. Hamilton’s responses pretty clearly indicate otherwise.

First, around the 2:50 mark, Hamilton responds to a question about being painted as the ring leader of the team’s locker room problems last year and says, “Ask the guys in the locker room, they’ll tell you who I am. Ask the coaching staff, they’ll tell you who I am.”

He also says that he felt like the organization lost faith in him and admits that he hadn’t been happy for a while.

The final minute of the video, Hamilton says that he and John Kuester were “good friends” and said that Kuester was put in a tough situation.

But the absolute best part is in the final :10 seconds. A reporter asks, “You’re still friends with Joe (Dumars), right?” Hamilton just responds with silence and a telling smile.