Romantic.

A few days ago, the Boston Globe reported that the prospect of adding beleaguered Detroit Piston Richard Hamilton would intrigue Danny Ainge. Today, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix discussed why Hamilton-to-Boston isn’t likely to happen anytime soon.

There’s a rumor going around that the Celtics are interested in Pistons shooting guard Richard Hamilton, but Mannix downplayed it.

“That’s just a rumor,” he said. “The only way they acquire him is by buyout. Right now, the ownership situation in Detroit is in such flux that that buyout, it ain’t coming anytime soon. And I’d be really surprised if it came before March 1st.”

Mannix acknowledged that “Hamilton would be a great asset in Boston” and “something has to happen” because Hamilton and coach John Kuester are at odds. However, Mannix said, “I just don’t see him getting bought out right now. He’s owed $25 million over the next two years. If he’s not willing to take a significant pay cut from that — and I’m talking in the $16 [million], 17 million range — he’s just not going anywhere. [Not] as long as the ownership situation is so up in the air out here.”

On the court, it’s easy to see how Rip would fit in with the Celtics. He could play Ray Allen’s role of “run defenders around screens until they can’t keep up anymore,” whenever Allen was on the bench. He’s a veteran with championship mettle and playoff experience galore. He’s hit big shots, knows how to share the ball, and never worried himself with such petty things as statistics.

But he’s also under contract for $12.65 million in 2012-’13, which is why this situation gets dicey. (CBS Sports)

Heading into what some executives are beginning to fear will be a hard-cap system, few — if any — teams will be willing to take on $21.5 million in guaranteed money over the next two seasons for a player who will turn 33 next month. The problem for Dumars is that a buyout will have to be an ownership decision, and the Pistons are in the midst of an ownership change. Going from saving $17 million in the deal that would’ve sent Hamilton to New Jersey to eating close to that amount in a buyout will be tough for any prospective owner to swallow.

Rip in Boston’s not happening, folks. Not unless a whole lot of things go right.