Chauncey Billups was not a Piston long enough.
The Pistons traded him for Allen Iverson in 2008, quickly sinking themselves from title contention. Though the deal had merit at the time, hindsight says Detroit absolutely should have kept Billups and co. together and let the championship core age and decline naturally.
After resurging with his hometown Nuggets and then bouncing to the Knicks and Clippers, Billups signed with the Pistons last summer. The two-year deal contained a $2.5 million team option that became a no-brainer to decline by today’s deadline.
I’d like to think the Pistons waited until so late in the day to announce it so Billups would remain on team just a little longer. But they couldn’t delay forever.
Keith Langlois of Pistons.com:
Pistons announce they will not pick up option on Chauncey Billips
— Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) June 30, 2014
Billups missed 169 games the last three years. There was no way the Pistons could justify keeping him at $2.5 million.
Brandon Jennings, flaws and all, is substantially better. Will Bynum is an OK enough backup. Even Peyton Siva contributes more now.
Billups can’t even get on the court. There’s no room for him as Detroit’s fourth point guard.
This is quite possibly the end of Billups’ playing career, but he could remain in basketball after retirement.
Billups is bright and balances keeping a level head with with an intense competitiveness. Everyone agrees he’d make a good coach. He doesn’t want to pursue that path, though. He wants a front-office job.
He returned to Detroit to retire and move into management, but the man who signed him, Joe Dumars, is no longer in power.
Is there room for Billups in Stan Van Gundy’s organization?
If there is, I bet Billups would be interested. If Dumars lands a new job elsewhere, Billups could fit there, too.
He’s played for eight teams – the Celtics, Raptors, Nuggets (twice), Magic, Timberwolves, Pistons (twice), Knicks and Clippers. He certainly has connections around the league.
If Billups really wants to keep playing, I bet he could get a veteran-minimum deal somewhere next season. At worst, he’s a great locker-room presence. Someone would value that and hope Billups can make a few spot-up 3-pointers.
But even that leadership role carries less weight when he can’t get on the court. This is probably the end of the line for the 37-year-old Billups.
As a player and executive, Billups is heading into free agency. That could be either very sad or very exciting, depending on which way Billups wants to go.