This is actually a great way to handle it, IMO. Let Hop see 1st hand how the rest of the league values him. At the end of the day, if no trades materialize and the Cards are happy keeping him, this is how you do it.
So to keep him $29 million and change, to trade $21 million and change. And, oh, let's pay part of his salary so we can trade him. So he could count maybe $23-$25 million against cap to trade him. Makes no sense to me.