Bu-Bu-Bu-Billups!
Forget the Allen Iverson fantasy, but let's seriously consider a name that continues to be mentioned among trade rumors: Chauncey Billups.
The 32-year-old point guard may be headed into the twilight of his career as an elite-level player and does have three years and $36.3 million left on his contract (not counting a team option of $14.2 mil in 2011-12). But if you're trying to build something here and make this team attractive to LeBr- I mean, free agents, this is the type of player you go after.
Not Chris Duhon.
OK, Billups may be more of a half-court type of floor general and not physically the best fit for Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo philosophy. But this system can make any smart guard look good because it's not as much about speed as it is tempo and decision-making on the fly. Billups is not lightning fast, but he's smart.
The Pistons are clearly looking to till the soil there in Detroit after one championship and then a succession of playoff disappointments. Flip Saunders got whacked and now the roster is going to get an overhaul. And Rodney Stuckey's emergence during the playoffs perhaps has made Billups expendable. Reports have suggested the Pistons offered Billups to Denver in a package for Carmelo Anthony and also have talked to the Warriors about Andris Biedrins.
So....would the Pistons be interested in Zach Randolph?
Just bloggin.
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Curiously that YouTube video from yesterday was pulled after it appeared on this blog. What you missed was a video of two workers at UNLV's Cox Pavillion taking down N8 the Gr8's "retired" summer league jersey, which was stuck to the wall there with thumbtacks. I did get word from the Knicks that the NBA Summer League plans to frame the jersey and display it during the weeks that the summer league is in session.
I wish I had something funny to say here, but I don't.
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Back later with more...(this time I mean it. I have some info about the ridiculous Gallinari suggestions and some thoughts on the Nets situation looking toward 2010).
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Comments (16)
Oak!
We can always count on you. I like to read it the other way too, as in he only plays hard half the time. Infinity and 4Life, I'm with you on the Nets, my niece began hating Jason Kidd for some reason when she was like 4 years old - "he's ugly and stupid looking". Every time VC sat back and threw up a 3 pointer off of his back foot the past two years, I've taken great comfort in the fact they had an albatross at least as expensive as Starbury. Alas, they have managed things well, and have stolen a march on us again, getting off to a rebuilding we can't begin to contemplate for a while.
Nevertheless, I like D'Antoni's philosophy - pass, move, cut, screen, open man shoots the ball, defend and run out - sounds alot like the old days when everybody on a basketball team was supposed to be a basketball player. So while Walsh is working on players, at least the guys we have will have a coherent philosophy, consistent roles, and a team to be a part of. I can watch that anytime.
As for Zach, the only reason things haven't happened other than the Clippers offer, is everybody thinks Walsh is going to crack and they can rip us off. Wait until Feb, when every team with a gaping hole in the middle starts to realize they will be out of contention without a post player. They'll get real soon enough.
Alan, I love your blog, and I love the fact that you update frequently.
However, going after Billups would be a huge mistake. It would be another in a long line of acquisitions of guys who are on the down side of their career, but make way too much money. Also, attaining that contract would harm their chances of getting under the cap in two years.
On another point, Starberman continues to take shots at Gallinari unfairly. A number of top picks (Rose, Love, etc) missed summer league games and those guys didn't play in two different European leagues, nor were they in a new country.
And the blog/story on Walt Frazier's view (of course he's never seen him play) is really dumb.
Can we wait until the guy plays a game or two before we start to knock him?
@david,
I saw that blog article. I am convinced that Berman is the anti-christ.
We just spent several years with a management team (and coach) that kept trading away the future and overpaying limited one dimensional players hoping to turn the team around quickly and satisfy an impatient and foolish NY media.
We finally have a management that is willing to do the right thing over the LONG HAUL and slowly build the team with young talented hard working team oriented players (instead of self centered anti social fools) and what do we get out of Berman?
Articles defending guys like Marbury, articles attacking the new draft pick, signs of extreme impatience, Ughhhhhh!
I almost have some sympathy for Isiah having had to deal with idiots like Berman!
@ Pete from the last thread,
"there is a big difference between putting up numbers for a winner than a doormat. Its why I get tired of people calling him a 20 and 10 (or 24 and 10!) guy as if that wasn't related to context. Those numbers were put up on lotto teams - on a contender, they would drop considerably."
Point well taken, however there's player Named Kevin Garnett
that was playing on a Doormat his whole career until last season.
Your point is very rhetorical in the least!
For those of you who really wanted to see the video of Nate's jersey coming down...
http://nba.fanhouse.com/category/knicks/
@ Peaceman - fair enough. Garnett's numbers did carry over (there was some drop off from his best Minny seasons, but nothing like Smith's). The thing with Garnett is that he was always criticized for being too unselfish, wasn't known for forcing shots, and always had a rep as a good passer and great defender. That is the sort of game that is welcome anywhere - its amazing how well he fit on a champion with a go-to scorer beside him.
My point is that just saying Zach has the value of a 20 and 10 guy for any team may not be the case - if a team wants him to d up, take good shots and move the ball, given the way he plays there will probably be a drop off in his numbers, and possibly a big one.
@ Italian Stallion
I totally agree with you . . .for years writers like Berman said that you can't rebuild in NY, so we end up with constant turnover of aging "stars," and the worst record in the NBA over a 10 year span.
Now, with most knowledgeable Knick fans behind the rebuilding plan, writers like Berman rip apart young draft picks, cheap FA's and a development of a plan.
Its the writers who won't stand for rebuilding not the fans.
@ david, Italian Stallion - Berman may be the worst - his adoration of Marbury is sickening, and his bias towards that guy (because Marbury gives him the time of day!?!?) makes his attacks on Gallo all the more self-serving. He's just trying to stir up trouble/ controversy.
"Its the writers who won't stand for rebuilding not the fans." Absolutely.
I guess all you Marcus Williams fans can relax on calling him the guard that got away since NJ couldn't jettison him fast enough.
So much for the comparisons to Balkman, I guess they both stink!
Send Greg Anthony my regards.
No on Billups. We don't need a PG that doesn't fit the system, that is 32, and has three years left. That's so anti-Nu-Knicks...at least for this new chapter in our history.
Going with an older point guard who is starting to show his age, and who extends beyond the summer of LeBron, is just a dumb move, in this fan's humble opinion.
I'd rather take my chances with Duhon, honestly.
Duhon is terrible. Billups would be a huge upgrade over him. I agree that he is on the downside of his career. If we were a better team I would jump at bringing him in to lead this team like we did with Derek Harper and Doc Rivers (remember them). Billups helped pull together a team of non-winners and malcontents in Det and won a title. Makes his teammates better, plays D, is a leader and can hit the big shot. Upgrade the talent in NY and he could probably do it here too. B. Davis would have been the better fit though because we are going up-tempo.
@ Peaceman. How was Minn a doormat during KGs career. They consistently went to the playoffs in the West and with Sprewell and Cassell were a couple of games away from the NBA finals. Yes they lost in the first round repeatedly but they were certainly better than the Knicks during that span. If a team that consistently goes to the playoffs is a doormat I don't even want to think of a nickname for the Knicks.
Marcus Williams is a better player than Balkman or Mardy Collins. That is not even up for debate, and I like Balkman but he can't play in a coherent system. Hopefully, D'Antoni uses him in spurts to provide energy, block shots, get rebounds, and pressure the bal. Hopefully he also helps him improve that awful jumpshot and FT shooting. Marcus Williams had to play behind J. Kidd and Devin Harris, what’s Balkman's excuse?
do u know anything about the loul deng sitiuation? berger is reporting that were intrested, but who would we give up?
@ Peaceman & Pete
Zach does put up good numbers for bad teams and I see your Garnet point about turning things around..Only problem Zach doesnt just play on bad teams, he plays on some of the worst teams in NBA history, get rid of this guy and anyone else we can..They all have been infected with the losing, use the Rays of baseball philosphy and just play a ton of young guys and in a couple of years it will turn around. Atleast it would be fun watching Gallo launch a bunch if shots and Roberson, lee and nate running around and hustling.
Lets come alive
Shake it up with some Bulljive
Yes to Loul Deng
No to Chauncey
@Knicks 4 Life
you are right about KG
he made the playoffs numerous years
and even had a chance to go the finals
(except Kobe and Shaq messed that up)
Zach cannot carry KG's jockstrap
people stop embellishing Zach's career
zach is a 20 and 10 guy on a losing team
but for him to be a winner he will have to
start playing team basketball
all zach cares about are his numbers
and that is why the knicks won 25 games
the question is not is he a 20 and 10 guy
but the question should be is he a winning player?
zach right now is not a winning player
he would rather score 20 points and
grab 10 rebounds and lose
than be a team player and win
Forget Billups, another high priced, underachieving NBA Millionaire. Haven't we had enough of them in the Garden recently?
Let's give Duhon a shot to earn his Millionzzzzzzzz!
If we're talking trade with Detroit than Zach for Rasheed makes sense for both teams and works close enough salary wise . Zach would probably excell in the half court game that Detroit typically plays. Rasheed provides a good defensive presence, is more athletic than any of our bigs except maybe Lee, and has enough range on his jumpshot to work well in coach D's system. Sheed has an expiring contract. Plus we need somebody pushing Curry for his starting position that does the things that he doesn't to possibly force improvement in D and rebounding! I'd do this trade in a minute even if it's a 4 man, 2 from each team to make #'s work and make deal mutually beneficial.