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UPDATE: We checked in with ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher about some potential landing spots for Billups if Denver also decides to trade him.

We've attached that commentary to the bottom of this update.

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Carmelo Anthony wants out. The Nuggets want J.R. Smith out. And Kenyon Martin, entering the final year of his lucrative contract, is out while he recovers from knee surgery. In addition, Chris Andersen is expected to miss the beginning of the regular season, too, after offseason surgery.

ESPN.com's John Hollinger made a good point Thursday via his Twitter page regarding Chauncey Billups' future with the Nuggets.

Hollinger tweeted: "Remember, if the Nuggets trade Melo and rebuild, there's really no point in them keeping Billups either. Could be two All-Stars on market."

Billups is from Denver and welcomed the opportunity to play in front of family and friends, but he may seek a trade to a playoff contender, or the team may see what the can get for the veteran point guard since they are in a rebuilding-mode.

Billups, who will turn 34 on Sept. 25, has two years remaining on his contract. He'll make $13.15 million for 2010-11 and $14.2 million for 2011-12, but only $3.7 million of that is guaranteed.

Any teams needing a point guard and who think they can challenge for the NBA title this season should contact the Nuggets.

ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher
Billups' leadership could help a number of teams
"Charlotte is in desperate need of a starting point guard and could offer cap relief, a seemingly attractive thing if Denver is starting over. If Golden State is looking to change its lackadaisical culture, Billups could help there, too. The Kings, Nets, Clippers and Grizzlies are relatively young teams that could benefit from his presence, too. But if Billups' dream scenario of riding into the sunset chasing another ring in his hometown has gone poof, the least he'd want is the chance to still chase a ring elsewhere. Teams that would keep the dream alive and have assets to send back are the Rockets, Magic and Hawks."

ball teacher wrote:How would you guys feel about DJ Augustin, Dampier's dust contract worth 13 million dollars and Boris Diaw from Charlotte for Billups and Nene? You get a young point guard to backup Lawson, a quality Power forward who can start for the injured Kenyon Martin, and you could either keep Dampier and save 13 million.

Shady08 wrote:

UPDATE: We checked in with ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher about some potential landing spots for Billups if Denver also decides to trade him.

We've attached that commentary to the bottom of this update.

---

Carmelo Anthony wants out. The Nuggets want J.R. Smith out. And Kenyon Martin, entering the final year of his lucrative contract, is out while he recovers from knee surgery. In addition, Chris Andersen is expected to miss the beginning of the regular season, too, after offseason surgery.

ESPN.com's John Hollinger made a good point Thursday via his Twitter page regarding Chauncey Billups' future with the Nuggets.

Hollinger tweeted: "Remember, if the Nuggets trade Melo and rebuild, there's really no point in them keeping Billups either. Could be two All-Stars on market."

Billups is from Denver and welcomed the opportunity to play in front of family and friends, but he may seek a trade to a playoff contender, or the team may see what the can get for the veteran point guard since they are in a rebuilding-mode.

Billups, who will turn 34 on Sept. 25, has two years remaining on his contract. He'll make $13.15 million for 2010-11 and $14.2 million for 2011-12, but only $3.7 million of that is guaranteed.

Any teams needing a point guard and who think they can challenge for the NBA title this season should contact the Nuggets.

ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher
Billups' leadership could help a number of teams
"Charlotte is in desperate need of a starting point guard and could offer cap relief, a seemingly attractive thing if Denver is starting over. If Golden State is looking to change its lackadaisical culture, Billups could help there, too. The Kings, Nets, Clippers and Grizzlies are relatively young teams that could benefit from his presence, too. But if Billups' dream scenario of riding into the sunset chasing another ring in his hometown has gone poof, the least he'd want is the chance to still chase a ring elsewhere. Teams that would keep the dream alive and have assets to send back are the Rockets, Magic and Hawks."

Spider156 wrote:Coming from a Piston fan, Billups is very very much overrated and is now a quitter like 06-08 ECF. He did the same thing last season and will do it again. Don't expec any leadership from him if he were to be traded. The best team for him is the Blazers, a well developed team who need more of a scoring threat at the point.

Spider156 wrote:Coming from a Piston fan, Billups is very very much overrated and is now a quitter like 06-08 ECF. He did the same thing last season and will do it again. Don't expec any leadership from him if he were to be traded. The best team for him is the Blazers, a well developed team who need more of a scoring threat at the point.

nicbatum wrote:Denver does it because both Miller and Przybilla have expiring contracts, while adding cheap young talent

Spider156 wrote:Coming from a Piston fan, Billups is very very much overrated and is now a quitter like 06-08 ECF. He did the same thing last season and will do it again. Don't expec any leadership from him if he were to be traded. The best team for him is the Blazers, a well developed team who need more of a scoring threat at the point.

easiestplayfts wrote:

Spider156 wrote:Coming from a Piston fan, Billups is very very much overrated and is now a quitter like 06-08 ECF. He did the same thing last season and will do it again. Don't expec any leadership from him if he were to be traded. The best team for him is the Blazers, a well developed team who need more of a scoring threat at the point.

This is coming from a Piston's fan and I have been a fan since 1985 (the bad boys era)......The 2003-2008 Pistons actually over-achieved including Billups because nobody thought the lowly Pistons could beat the 2004 star-studded Lakers then return to the finals in 2005. The only reason the Pistons didn't win the 2005 championship against the Spurs was because of Rasheed's missed assignment in game 5 against Robert Horry. Then they went to the conference finals 4 years in a row.
I love Billups but he is an all-star not a superstar and thats how Joe Dumars built a great team with 5 all-stars and no superstars. People who say Billups is overrated are the ones who are overrating him.

Anyway Chauncey was beloved in Detroit. Here is Chauncey's return to the Palace compared to Rasheed's (the guy in your avatar) return....although I don't think Rasheed should have been booed. Because they both played for the Pistons 6 years.



Rasheed's return starts at 0:40
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgReUZEE2Ng[/youtube]

Chauncey's return starts at 0:32
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YlHmJdnI6M[/youtube]

piston1423 wrote:
The fans were not booing Sheed, they were saying "Shhheeedd" Like they always did.

Wallace was greeted with cheers and boos during player introductions. Kuester said Wallace deserved to be praised by Pistons fans

GTO wrote:How about something like Billups to Houston for Brooks + Jordan Hill (or Patrick Patterson) + the higher of NYK/HOU 2011 1st round pick + salary fillers J. Jeffries, Mike Harris and Alexander Jonson (the latter two minimum nonguaranteed contracts)?