<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Billups will become unrestricted free agent July 1 By Chris Sheridan ESPN.com Updated: June 25, 2007, 11:33 AM ET Chauncey Billups officially opted out of his contract Monday, making him an unrestricted free agent as of July 1. "Chauncey's first intention is to come back to Detroit, and we'll continute to explore that as an option, but if we're unable to make a deal with the Pistons my obligation is to look at other possibilities that will provide long-term security for Chauncey and his family," agent Andy Miller told ESPN.com. Billups was due to make $6,819,000 next season in the final year of his contract, which had an early termination option. Pistons president Joe Dumars has consistently said he is confident the Pistons will be able to re-sign Billups, whose negotiating leverage will be impacted by the small number of teams with significant salary cap space. Milwaukee and Memphis are two teams with cap space and a need for a point guard, but neither team is expected to have enough space to make a better offer than the one Billups will get from Detroit. Chris Sheridan covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.</div> Source: ESPN He should be one of our top targets in the FA market. We need someone who can score, play great defense, and is clutch and if you get that out of a PG who sets up the offense, that is great. Would you guys rather have Chauncey Billups for 4-5 years $10 mil a year or Shard Lewis for 5-7 years at $12-13 mil a year?
I think Rashard Lewis is the better option. I don't see Chauncey coming here to play for us and he might go out West or to the Heat for all we know.
From what I've read, it sounds like this is the order we're pursuing the free agents in: 1. Rashard Lewis 2a. Chauncey Billups 2b. Vince Carter 3. Gerald Wallace
Realistically, I think it should be: 1. Rashard Lewis 2. Gerald Wallace 3. Chauncey Billups 4. Vince Carter
<div class="quote_poster">CLos Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Realistically, I think it should be: 1. Rashard Lewis 2. Gerald Wallace 3. Chauncey Billups 4. Vince Carter</div> I agree but when our front office sees Vince Carter they see Human Highlight Reel, SportsCenter highlights, ticket sales, perenial All-Star, and media attention. Then they see Gerald Wallace and see great player who does everything but he'd be the disapointing pick up to the casual fan since he isn't flashy and he flys under the radar.
I definitely agree with what you're saying. VC will definitely get the Magic more spotlight in the NBA and also with fans. I'm not sold though obviously. With Gerald Wallace, you do get a young guy who is somewhat flashy and athletic and can play defense. All these guys are All-Stars or could be (Wallace).
I would love to see a duo of Dwight and Billups that will be great.He should be your first FA target second Lewis.
Come on. Billups is staying in Detroit. Of course he's opting out of a $6.5 million dollar contract, because the Pistons are willing to give him the max instead.
Detroit shouldn't give them the max if they know what's good for them. Billups has been just as complacent and disappointing in the last two year's playoffs as anybody on the team, and at 30, he certainly shouldn't be paid max dollars.
If they lose Billups, they are done. The Pistons are officially going downhill if they don't resign Chauncey.
