Billups article and the light it throws on McHale

[Minny P]

Probably you have come across the espn.com article on Billups.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/ ... 11/billups


Reading the Wolves part obviously makes you sad. The way he grew as a player under Michell and Brandon, how he connected with KG. Just to see McHale turn down a mid-level exception deal he could have matched.

So you have 32 year old 5-11 point guard with a career threatening injury and a 24 year old prospect that just discovered his potential, fits great with your superstar, accepts the veteran leadership on your team and is available for the mid-level exception and you tell him he will stay number 2 for the unforseenable future? Especially as your Superstar's salary is eating up more than half the cap space.

Remember, McHale is the same guy who was ready to open up the big pockets for Hudson and Jaric who had never really starting potential. His move might appear honest towards Billups, but this is not the way you win championships. It's the culture of loosing.

[john2jer]

It's been widely discussed that McHale/Taylor offered Billups the contract. It was Flip Saunders who made the decision that caused Billups to leave. He wouldn't promise Billups the starting job, so Chauncey went where he could start.

Besides, how can you knock the decision to go with Brandon? He went to 3 all-star games and we won a championship with him as our starting point guard. Chauncey's still waiting to sniff the play-offs.

[Calinks]

This is Sota. Its how we roll.

[Mayoistooslow]

To be fair, Chauncey Billups was a poor player back in the day. I mean, he was at the same level as Telfair IMO.

[Calinks]

Damn Telfair? I was thinking maybe a struggling to average Foye.

[tvwolves7]

Just to see McHale turn down a mid-level exception deal he could have matched.

We offered the mid-level, Chauncey did not take it.

So you have 32 year old 5-11 point guard with a career threatening injury and a 24 year old prospect that just discovered his potential, fits great with your superstar, accepts the veteran leadership on your team and is available for the mid-level exception and you tell him he will stay number 2 for the unforseenable future?

Brandon did have a major injury and obviously it turned out to be career ending. However I can not be upset that at the time they did not tell Chauncey he is the guaranteed starter. Brandon for 5 seasons or so averaged over 8 assist per game with low turnovers for us.

They really should have tried to sell him beyond on the idea of the years to come and given him the feeling of being wanted. But to simply say you are not going to start and leave it at that is frustrating.

[john2jer]

How about a poor man's John Stockton with rich man Gerald Green's athleticism and a drunk man's Matt Birk kind of intelligence? Maybe stir the concoction with a little Dikembe Mutumbo and serve chilled?

[Esohny]

Well, Trent Tucker LOVED "The Butler" if that means anything. (I'm not sure if it does)

[SSUBluesman]

I've never understood how franchises will have a vision at the GM/President level that does not mesh or opposed to what the coach wants to do or is doing.

I also don't understand why they didn't tell Billups the job was his while being prepared to make a move if Brandon comes back healthy.

[Twizman]

Idiots

[karch34]

At the time Billups had started to play very well for us. I remember in particular a game against the Mavericks with KG out that we won basically due to Billups. After a number of teams and struggles, he seemed to finally get it. He wasn't guaranteed the starting position because we'd gave Brandon a huge deal. That said Brandon was injured at the time and had already talked about turning over the starting duties to Billups.

So yeah, Flip or someone told him he wouldn't be starting, but it was apparent to almost everyone following the team that despite Brandon being a good player he was on a decline. That said it's hindsight. With Marbury gone, we wanted to hold onto Brandon and outbid Toronto. We could've traded Brandon for Allan Houston if he hadn't made the shot that took the Ewing-less Knicks to the Finals. With Houston off the table we were firmly entrenched with Brandon, so we didn't take a sweet deal from Cleveland to trade the pick that became Szerbiak for what could've been Andre MIller and other players. We lucked into Billups as he was the only one of three free agents we offered the exception to that offseason (with the patented McHale "here it is, whoever wants it, gets it, I'm going fishing" offer). And so on...

Too many bad moves to keep going down this path as it gets depressing.

[JR Rider]

i always leave threads like this a little bit more sad

[TheFranchise21]

:nonono:

It's been widely discussed that McHale/Taylor offered Billups the contract. It was Flip Saunders who made the decision that caused Billups to leave. He wouldn't promise Billups the starting job, so Chauncey went where he could start.

Besides, how can you knock the decision to go with Brandon? He went to 3 all-star games and we won a championship with him as our starting point guard. Chauncey's still waiting to sniff the play-offs.

Did you forget the word division?

I'm tired of discussing why Billups left. We've talked about dozens of times now. Chauncey left a long time ago and made a name for himself.

[Krapinsky]

I'm tired of discussing why Billups left. We've talked about dozens of times now. Chauncey left a long time ago and made a name for himself.

I'm not here to talk about the past...

[4ho5ive]

TF21 s a good friend, but, he misremembers

[southern wolf]

GTFO! The Wolves made a bad move!?

[Rakocevicftw]

Fans bashed Billups constantly when he was in Minny. Signing him to a big contract would have been seriously unpopular.

And really he was just a solid PG for Minny, not great. Maybe he never would have blossomed under Flip. I think part of the problem is that KG dominated the ball-- Billups really succeeded in Detroit dominating the ball and hitting shooters.

[Worm Guts]

Fans bashed Billups constantly when he was in Minny. Signing him to a big contract would have been seriously unpopular.

I don't remember that at all and even if it were true, it would have been quickly forgotten considering our starting PG the following year was Troy Hudson.

[MN Die Hard]

Dumars offers him $4.5 million, the mid-level exception, which the Timberwolves are willing to match. But there's a caveat: G.M. Kevin McHale tells him, "I have to be honest. Terrell's still our starter."

Chauncey thanks McHale for being frank and accepts the Pistons deal, his sixth team in five years.

Wow, I read this yesterday and thought it attempted to paint McHale in a good light. But yet he STILL gets bashed here because he excersises honesty intergrity. Unreal. And it's not like we were just letting the Finals MVP and Mr. Big Shot walk for nothing.....people tend to ignore/forget that he didnt become those things until he got to Detroit.

[C.lupus]

Who is this "McHale" that you speak of?