Chauncey Billups is going to be arguably the biggest free agent name this offseason. He's an enormous fan favorite in Detroit, hence why today's hint at leaving the Pistons is sure to cause quite a stir in the Motor City:"I would be lying if I said with 20-something games left until the playoffs that I wasn't thinking about my future," Billups said. "When the time comes, I've got to consider all of my options. I know this [Memphis] is one team with a lot of money that's looking to get a point guard. I'm going to have to consider this option when the time comes. But right now, my focus is trying to win a championship with my team."You would think a guy like Chauncey, one of the best point guards in the League (and playing for a title contender), would have no interest in jumping ship to a bottom feeder like the Grizz. And you would be wrong.
"They have a lot of good young talent," Billups said. "They're a couple of players away from being really, really good. The season started out really rough for them and then Gasol came back, and they've been playing well. They're a lot better than their record."I'm inclined to think this is just a case of Billups smartly putting a bit of fear into Joe Dumars and company. He's telling them, "Hey, you have a great team here, but don't think for one second that if you don't show me the money, I won't pull a Ben Wallace on y'all!"
From the sound of things, Dumars and the rest of the Pistons brass better be prepared to break the bank for Mr. Big Shot.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-04-2007 @ 10:08PM
Dean said...
The interesting hypothetical here is what the Grizz could potentially look like next year. With Billups and Oden in the draft (not that improbable) they'd have a strong starting five in Billups, Miller, Gay, Gasol, and Oden. Tell me that's not a playoff team in 2009.
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3-05-2007 @ 11:19AM
evan said...
Kyle Lowry is the truth for the Grizz and needs some time to do it. A tough scenario for the next GM, but how much time do you have left with Billups and is this team mature enough to play with him?
I could see Chauncey having the best chance picking up a team of veteran starters. Grizz are going to need a coach to go along with a shift in focus on who will have the ball.
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3-05-2007 @ 11:18AM
Brian said...
That's pretty much it... this is just posturing by Mr. Billups. Like I mentioned on Empty the Bench, however, the timing of these comments strike me as a bit odd since he repeatedly said that he would not be discussing his impending free agency during the season.
Still, I can't see him leaving Detroit. Joe D will pony up the money to keep him.
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