Knicks will Keep Billups. Option picked up.
@FisolaNYDN
Frank Isola
Knicks have now made it official. Donnie Walsh wanted Billups back. That's a great sign for Knicks if Walsh is still in power.
I think this a good move. He is the best pg available this year. Its an expiring contract as well. Makes sense.
I wondered if they asked him about a buyout and a resigning. But that would have to be for more that one year which may hurt their 2012 plans.
Move makes sense. Definitely good news if Donnie is still in charge.
..April 27, 2011 2:51 PM 0 comments .Knicks will pick up option on Chauncey Billups; guard to return next season
BY Frank Isola
The Knicks are bringing back Chauncey Billups.
The Daily News has learned that the Knicks agreed Wednesday to pick up the one-year, $14.2 million option on the veteran point guard's deal. An official announcement is expected to be made sometime Wednesday afternoon.
"We have made a decision to keep Chauncey Billups for the upcoming 2011-12 season," Knicks team president Donnie Walsh said in a statement. "Chauncey, Amar'e and Carmelo are a great nucleus, as we continue to look to improve our team going into the off-season. Chauncey is an extremely talented and experienced point guard - we are very happy to have him back."
Billups' contract called for the Knicks to decide on his future within five days of the conclusion of their season. The team had until Friday to either pick up his option of buy him out for $4 million.
Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire both lobbied to bring back Billups, the 2004 NBA Finals MVP who came to New York from Denver in the Anthony deal.
Billups injured his left knee in Game 1 of the Knicks' playoff series against the Boston Celtics and missed the final three games of the first-round sweep.
Great News !!!!!
Just wish the NBA Finals would be done with.
Not fun knowing we are done..
But once this season ends we can to watch as Donnie puts together a few more players to make us at least Championship contenders...
This is great news, now all we need to focus on is getting some role players.
I think Hahn said it better than I could, for anyone ready to be critical:
For those against the Billups move, please explain who you would get to run the point with the little bit of cap room you'd have.
I initially felt it was a better idea to buy him out and resign him for less money, but then I realized that would mean a multi year deal which would get in the way of 2012. So I'm happy with this decision. We probably won't be able to get any of the FA centers we were after but at least the PG position is covered for now.
This also means we have a pretty good expiring contract to offer if need be. The thing I'm not sure about is how we are supposed to negotiate with NOH if Paul talks surface, seeing as how their league managed now. Good news is the NBA owns them and we all know the leagues popularity is heavily tied to how good their big market teams are (notably NYC).
I was thinking the exact same thing. On bouth points.
Why cantthe NBA help us. The Lakers put Jerry West incharge of the Grizzlies thus facilitating the Gasol trade. Kevin Mchale helped out his old team and buddy Danny Ainge to get Kevin Garnett to Boston.
Give us Chris Paul. They should sign him to a 6 year 100 million dollar deal then waive him. Then we can just give him the veteran minimum. (tongue in cheek).
Last edited by Blumatic; Apr 27, 2011 at 15:03. Reason: addition
I actually was thinking about this. David Stern is an NY guy and grew up a Knicks fan, also it was rumored that he fixed the 1985 draft so that we can draft Ewing. Why wouldn't he want one his richest franchises to do well? He can gain a ****load of money from all the New Yorkers watching us in the Finals.
Since we have zero cap space, maybe we should use the MLE to sign a solid SG. Then trade Billups expiring contract + Fields to Cleveland for Varejao + Ramon Sessions. Maybe?
I really don't see how we can get CP3. We have nothing to trade and not enough cap space to sign him, unless he's willing to make about half of what Melo makes (doubt it). We need to move on. It's virtually impossible. Time to think of other options (see above).
If we ride out the year w Billups and his contract comes off, then we shed a few other expiring contracts how would CP3 be making "half" of what Amare and Melo would making respectively??
Once we get CP3 dudes'll be lining up to sign for the vet minimum to play for a team that has a legit shot at a title.
Last edited by ronoranina; Apr 27, 2011 at 15:39.
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Exactly..
It's possible to get CP3 folks.
I like the move. Chauncey Billups is good, but he needs to get his minutes cut down to 28-30 mpg. He's too old to be playing 35+ minutes.
IF we are able to trade Balkman for an expiring contract, and IF we decide to not keep Douglas, and IF we trade our 1st round pick this year for an expiring contract we will be at $44.15 mil in team salary with only 2 players on the roster.
Please provide details how we can sign CP3.
Remember, Bosh took $14.5 mil, Lebron took $14.5 mil and Wade took $14 mil. Their 3 salaries combined are only $3 mil less than Melo and Amare's 2 salaries combined. Do the math.
People also need to realize that N.O. will likely follow Denver and trade him before he becomes a free agent.
Please provide details of a realistic trade for us to acquire CP3. Keep in mind it cost us half our roster to get Melo when we were the only team Melo wanted.
This was the right move. There are no better PG options available this summer & both our star players admire & respect Chauncey already. He is the defacto leader on this team & he's only been here 2 months, that just tells you how much this guy has everyone's ear & respect in the lockerroom. Plus this keeps the Knicks in solid standing if CP3 should ever decide he wants to be a Knick in 2012.
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