<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Billups, Griz could fitStory ToolsE-mail this story | PrintAll-Star guard won't count Memphis outBy Ronald TilleryContactMarch 4, 2007The Grizzlies are keeping a watchful eye on their future even in defeat, and Saturday night's 92-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons could have provided an unsuspecting glimpse.Pistons All-Star guard Chauncey Billups acknowledged he would consider Memphis as a free-agent destination in the offseason. Billups is expected to exercise a player option on a contract paying $6.9 million next season.Memphis is expected to have at least $10 million in salary cap room , and has already decided to target a big-time point guard.Billups fits the bill with his offensive prowess and defensive ability, and interest."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 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."Billups led the Pistons with 19 points, nine assists and five rebounds Saturday night. The Griz would have a major backcourt upgrade should they lure the 6-3 Billups.Point guard will be their biggest area of need given that backup Chucky Atkins will likely leave in free agency and starter Damon Stoudamire could be bought out of his final two years. That would leave only rookie Kyle Lowry at the position.Billups' size and shooting would make him a solid investment given that his skills haven't diminished with age. He'll turn 31 just before training camp. Steve Nash was 30 when he signed with the Phoenix Suns as a free agent in July 2004.The Grizzlies' need coupled with Pau Gasol as a cornerstone sounded appealing to Billups."You can't guard him with one guy," Billups said of Gasol. "He's a problem. He's long. He shoots the jumper. He attacks the basket. He can pass. There's nothing that he can't do. He's a premier player."Billups was hardly turned off by the Grizzlies' dismal record."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."</div>Source- Realgm.
I think Memphis is waiting to see what happens with their draft pick before deciding to deal Pau Gasol. If they can end up with Durant or Oden, then why in the world would they trade Gasol? That would be a nice duo to build around, and then the possibility of adding Billups to the mix, with Damon Stoudamire behind him, Rudy Gay, Mike Miller and Hakim Warrick... wow.
this is my dream...ive always loved Billups(hes the reason I became a NBA fan). And hes perfect for Memphis. I think anybody whos seen us play can agree we just dont close out. Its rare we ever get blown out. Billups would be great for memphis....ironicly me and Celticballa were discussing this yesterday. Hima nd a high draft pick will make memphis very good.
Chauncey Billups has said he's considering a lot of teams (teams with the money for him)...why is this such a suprise or even a story for that matter...first off, why is Billups even f*cking talking about this when the season is still in full swing...he should shut up about all of this until the playoffs are over. Edit the topic post, the post is stretched...
I'm willing to bet my ass that Billups does not go to Memphis. They have nice players, yes - but why would he leave the best team in the Eastern Conference to a team in the West that never finds any playoff success. Billups may bolt, but I don't think he's going to Memphis.
Wow for some reason the quote stretched the whole page on my CPU.ANyway. Would be a great move the Grizz. They get a player who can make the right choices and be a real leader to this young team. I think either Damon Stoudemire or Chucky Aktins will be moved this summer if he goes to memphis. The only prob here is that Kyle Lowry will be getting less minutes.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zards @ Mar 4 2007, 05:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm willing to bet my ass that Billups does not go to Memphis. They have nice players, yes - but why would he leave the best team in the Eastern Conference to a team in the West that never finds any playoff success. Billups may bolt, but I don't think he's going to Memphis.</div>Memphis isnt entirely young. Yeah we got some young players like Hak, Lowry and Gay, but we still have Miller, Gasol and other vets. He said it himself, Memphis isnt respresented well by the record. We shouldnt be a 40 loss team. If he, and a high draft pick comes to Memphis, we will have the opputunity to go far...really far into the playoffs. And you mention why would he leave Dertiot, well if they dont do anyhting this post season, he might look at it like Ben Wallace did. The pistons arent moving forward, but only getting older. And Jerry West has a way of getting stars.....
Billups wants to win. He won't go to Memphis. That's all I need to say. These kind of rumors don't mean anything anyway.
its not rumors..its qoutes from him. And he obviously feels that Memphis is better than the record says. He as a addition will makes memphis a top 5 western conf. team IMO. But thats far away from now, and I understand why youre defensive cause I went throuth the same with the Gasol thing. Theres a huge chance that he will stay in Detriot though.
No..Billups to the Grizz don't make them a top 5 team..a playoff team yes..but they aren't gonna be better than the Mavs/Suns/Spurs/Rockets/Jazz/Lakers
I'm not too worried about it, at least not right now. I read somewhere that Joe D has already stated that they plan on giving him a max contract. He's just using this for leverage to get maximum value.
ill doubt hell leave Detroit unless Flip Saunders does the same thing to Ben Wallace last year that made him pissed and wanted to leave. But I see the future of Billips ending his career with the Pistons. He's done a lot for the Pistons and itll be sad if they lose him just like the way they lost Ben. But then in the other hand Memphis could be one of the top teams in the West to beat. Already the Duo of either Oden or Durant is crazy. Add into the mix of Billips who can fill that PG spot of theirs and there you go, you have a winning team.
Part of the reason the Pistons let Ben go was because they wanted to have the money to re-sign Billups amongst other players. Actually, it was the biggest part of why they let Ben go. There is NO WAY Chauncey is leaving Detroit. Joe D has EVERY intention of signing him to a max contract. The Pistons will be able to match, or at least come extremely close to what Memphis has to offer. Keep the team in-tact, have 2 first round draft picks (one of which might be lottery), and actually improve instead of "just getting older". This way Chauncey, RIP and Tayshaun will be together for at least another 4 years. Which is basically the amount of time Chauncey has left in his prime.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Mar 4 2007, 08:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No..Billups to the Grizz don't make them a top 5 team..a playoff team yes..but they aren't gonna be better than the Mavs/Suns/Spurs/Rockets/Jazz/Lakers</div>If Billups went to the grizz and we got oden or durant, or maybe even Al Horford.We would be better than the Lakers
it was my understanding that detriot traded Milicic to resign Wallace..Wallace got a better offer from the Bulls so he went there...but what if Detriot did resign Wallace...how would they resign Billups then?Just because a team wants to resign you, doesn't mean the player wants to go back to that team...we just have to wait and see what happens.
Did Billups get a recent head injury? He plays on the Pistons and he wants to sign with the GRIZZLIES. I know money is a factor but my lord Chauncey, I thought you cared about winning.
Everybody knows the one thing holding Memphis back is THAT player...we arent a bad team by no means..we just dont have something, and Billups could be that something..anyways imagine:Billups-Miller-Gay-Gasol-Oden/Durant(Durant would be PF with Gasol at C)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (austingriz @ Mar 5 2007, 04:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>it was my understanding that detriot traded Milicic to resign Wallace..Wallace got a better offer from the Bulls so he went there...but what if Detriot did resign Wallace...how would they resign Billups then?</div>Bird yearsIf the Grizz gets Billups and Durant, they will win the NBA Championship.
