[外電] Chauncey Billups officially opted out

看板Pistons (底特律活塞)作者pennymarcus (De-troit Basketball)時間18年前 (2007/06/26 17:46)推噓1(1推 0噓 0→)

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http://0rz.tw/d52Op 槍蜥將在自由球員市場測試他的身價 June 26, 2007 BY KRISTA JAHNKE Surprising no one, Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups officially opted out of the final year of his contract Monday, giving him unrestricted free agent status starting Sunday. Billups, a two-time All-Star and former NBA Finals MVP, ranks at the top of the free agent class and made it known he intended to test his value this summer. Billups, 30, had until Saturday to file his free agency papers, and by getting it done Monday, it tempers the drama. "This is no surprise to anyone," agent Andy Miller said. "We felt that it would be in everyone's best interest to have everything out in front and open, to leave more time to prepare for Chauncey's future. His perspective has not changed. He'd like to give Detroit every opportunity to re-sign him and to make a long-term commitment to winning another championship -- or two or three." Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars has made re-signing Billups his top priority of the summer. And Billups has said repeatedly that his first choice is to stay with the Pistons. "But obviously," Miller said, "as his agent, I have to recommend to him at some point in the process if things are not moving along as well as I would like or am comfortable with, we'll have to look at other scenarios." Miller also represents forward Antonio McDyess, who can opt out of the final year of his contract. Miller said McDyess had not yet decided which way to go. If he decides to stay, the two sides can begin negotiating a contract extension on July 1. What happens with McDyess will likely be influenced by the direction Billups takes. Not only do they share an agent, but the two are good friends, and McDyess longs to win a championship. If Billups departs, McDyess could decide the championship window has closed in Detroit for good and look elsewhere. "From our perspective, we have to have a feel for the direction of where the organization is going and the things that are important to Antonio," Miller said. Only teams with salary cap space can make a run at free agents like Billups, but under collective bargaining rules, the Pistons can offer him the biggest contract. He would have made $6.8 million in his final season. At the moment, forward Rasheed Wallace will be the highest-paid Piston next season at $12.5 million. His list of potential suitors includes the Milwaukee Bucks, the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies. But the Bucks have their own free agent point guard in Maurice Williams, and he would come at a cheaper sticker price. The Grizzlies reportedly might target Williams as well, and they also hold the No. 4 draft pick, when highly touted point guard Mike Conley Jr. should still be available. The Magic is thought to be interested in Seattle free agent forward Rashard Lewis. http://0rz.tw/7a2Mx Pistons try to keep Billups As guard becomes free agent, business and civic leaders are teaming up to get him to stay in Detroit. Terry Foster / The Detroit News Piper Billups' ears perked up when the chatter at the nail salon turned to her husband, Pistons player Chauncey Billups. One woman announced Billups was leaving Detroit to sign with Milwaukee. Another brought up Los Angeles and Memphis, which piqued Piper Billups' interest. "Hmmm, I never heard that," Piper Billups laughed, while recounting the scene. "I was sitting up there thinking, 'Did you hear it from me? I am not moving to Memphis."（老婆大人不要搬去Memphis哦！） Billups' future in Detroit is open for speculation after, as expected, he opted out of the final year of his contract Monday to test the free-agent market. Trying to convince Billups his best option is Detroit are a number of business and civic leaders such as Robert Porcher, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Dave Bing and even the man who'll be negotiating his contract, Pistons president Joe Dumars. They are, Billups said, encouraging the basketball star to put down roots, seize business opportunities and become a leader in the community. Long-range plans As Piper Billups told her story recently, Billups was a few feet away chipping golf balls in the family backyard. He was working on his game because he plans to hit a few as the celebrity host of the Children's Center annual Celebrity Golf Classic on July 30 at the Birmingham Country Club. That's right: July 30, nearly a month after Billups becomes a free agent. Meaning: Billups is planning to stay in Detroit. Of course, that might not happen if he gets a richer offer elsewhere, or the Pistons use him in a sign-and-trade deal with another club. "This game (basketball) means a lot to me, but it is not everything," Billups said. "I talk to (leaders) and have lunch with them. I want to be successful the rest of my life. There are a lot of people around here showing me the right things to do and the right ways to do things." Detroit fans heard similar words from Grant Hill, Allan Houston and Ben Wallace just before they bolted. But Billups said he is aggressively working behind the scenes to join a number of current and former Detroit athletes investing in the city. "They are in my ear all the time," he said. One is Porcher, the former Lions player who has fashioned a career as an entrepreneur since retiring from the NFL in 2004. Porcher said he'd love to work with Billups or at least help him make the right connections. "I think the No. 1 thing is Chauncey has established himself as a leader," Porcher said. "And he conducts himself well off the court. He is just a good guy. The times I've interacted with him he has been a good-spirited guy. "He also understands the fabric and makeup of Detroit and Michigan, what people are all about. He just fits in. And now he is starting to do some things off the court." It's become home Billups and his wife are heavily involved in the Children's Center golf tournament. Billups plans to ride a cart and meet every foursome and, yes, do a little chipping and putting. Piper Billups will host a hip-hop tea party during the event. "It is extremely important for him to be here," said Debora Matthews, CEO of the Children's Center. "My prayer is that he loves Detroit enough to hang around. We want to keep him here. He is a great man and role model. I am really hoping he makes the decision to hang with us." Piper Billups said the family -- daughters Cydney, 9, Ciara, 6, and Cenaiya, who was born a few weeks ago -- has grown comfortable in Detroit, which allows them to get involved. Piper Billups admitted that during their first years in Detroit she flew to the Billups' hometown of Denver every time the Pistons were out of town, and "I've got the frequent flier miles to prove it." But she said her trips have become less frequent. "We've actually made this home," Piper Billups said. "We've moved around so much, this is actually the longest we've been in one spot. "When I first got here I did not like it. I just think it was moving to a new place again. We go downtown a lot and we really like it. It is not what a lot of people say it is. I can't say anything bad about Detroit or Michigan and where we live. "I hope we stay. We want to stay. This is our home. Our kids love it and this is all they know and all of their friends are here." Porcher is not surprised the Billups family loves Detroit. "This place grows on you," said Porcher, a South Carolina native. "It is a great city." It definitely has grown on Billups. "I'm not just saying this to just be saying it or because I believe this is what you want to hear; I am sincere," Billups said. "I love it here. I don't just stay up here (Oakland County). I go to a lot of different places and hear what people have to say and I get a feel for them. I know they appreciate what I do and how I carry myself. They look at you and how you carry yourself and I respect that. "I really like it here. I really do, and I want to stay." http://0rz.tw/fa2Pm Pistons say no to draft projects With the 15th pick, Dumars wants player who can step in and contribute immediately. Chris McCosky / The Detroit News AUBURN HILLS -- Pistons president Joe Dumars has made his feelings clear about the importance of this draft. With the 15th pick Thursday, Dumars is looking to get a player who can step in and contribute -- next season. "Like Joe has said over and over, we need to add youth and energy to our team," said John Hammond, vice president of basketball. "It can be at any position, on the perimeter or in the frontcourt. We are looking to get a player that will be capable of getting on the floor immediately. We are not looking at a project-type player with the 15th pick." There are a couple of reasons why this draft is so critical for the Pistons. One, the average age of the team's core group is 30. Two, the Pistons have drafted two immediate impact players -- Mehmet Okur and Tayshaun Prince -- in the last 10 years. "We are sitting in a good position," Dumars said via e-mail Monday. "We are looking to really upgrade our team through this draft, with youth, athleticism, energy, depth and toughness." The Pistons have two picks in the first round -- 15 and 27 -- as well as the 57th pick. Dumars said he wasn't zeroed in on any particular positional need. Typically, if the Pistons drafted a perimeter player at 15, they would most likely go for a front-court player at 27. This year, with the talent pool so deep, the Pistons likely would take the best available player at both spots, regardless of position. And, if history holds, the Pistons will use the 57th pick to draft a European project, somebody they can hold the rights to without giving up a roster spot. Dumars said 35 players will have worked out for the Pistons by Wednesday. Though no player has been asked to return for a second look, three players have stood out as prime candidates for the 15th spot. Rodney Stuckey, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Eastern Washington, might have had the best workout from an offensive standpoint. He shot well from the perimeter and showed NBA strength and quickness at both ends of the floor. Stuckey was one of 15 players selected by the league to attend the draft in New York, an indication he might be selected before the Pistons pick. There have been reports Sacramento (10) and the Los Angeles Clippers (14) are interested in Stuckey. The Pistons were also wowed by Nick Young, the 6-6, 200-pound swingman from Southern California. He has a great midrange game and deceptive explosiveness off the dribble. The question about Young is his demeanor. He is a laid-back California kid, much in the mold of Tayshaun Prince. If the Pistons are looking for energy and exuberance, Young might not fit the bill. （像小王子的個性不好啊 XDDDD） Thaddeus Young, a 19-year-old, 6-8 forward from Georgia Tech, did not have a great workout for the Pistons, but he is intriguing nevertheless. He is a raw but gifted athlete. He was inconsistent in his one season at Georgia Tech and his workouts have been just as erratic. But his upside is high enough that he probably won't fall much lower than 20. The Pistons aren't looking to take on a project at No. 15, but if things fall badly for them early in the draft, he wouldn't be a bad fallback option. The Pistons also liked what they saw of Jason Smith (7-0 power forward from Colorado State), Morris Almond (6-6 Richard Hamilton clone from Rice), Marco Belinelli (6-5 swingman from Italy) and Javaris Crittenton (6-5 point guard from Georgia Tech). They will take a look at Al Thornton, a 6-8, 220-pound small forward from Florida State, today. He has been projected to go as high as No. 12 to Philadelphia. "We are looking for talent and for a sense of urgency," Dumars said. "We don't want guys who are underachievers. We don't want guys who have been coddled. We want guys with an edge, guys who have something to prove. That's what we're looking for (on Thursday)." （有人要大概翻一下重點可以推文哦感謝了！） -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 61.229.130.118