Chauncey's Departure Could Shape The East
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by user Schizo Sports
It's ironic to think that the Detroit Pistons, who were lauded for their teamwork and unity, could be divided once their players ask for a bigger paycheck. Yet with Chauncey Billups opting out of his last year in Detroit, it's certainly heading that way.
Billups loves Detroit and says he doesn't want to leave. "I really like it here. I really do, and I want to stay." Of course if he loved being in Detroit so much, he wouldn't need to opt out of his contract. Billups wants a giant deal, and forcing GM Joe Dumars to match offers is the only way he's getting it.
However you have to consider whether Joe Dumars is committed to keeping Billups around. The problem with being a 5-man-team is you have a lot of parts to keep in check, and giving one a max contract means the other ones would want one too.
Right now Detroit is paying a lot of money to Chris Webber, Nazr Mohammed, and whoever they get in return for Rasheed Wallace (assuming they dump him). Then you got Tayshaun Prince (who's looking for an extension) and Richard Hamilton (who'll be a free agent next year). They might not be able to give Chauncey Billups the 6yr-$60 million contract that Orlando or Memphis can offer him.
Personally, I can see Billups signing with the Orlando Magic. With Grant Hill's 7yr-$93 million deal mercilessly coming to an end, the Magic have the cap space to give Billups what he wants. Chauncey may be more willing to go to Orlando over other suiters since he's been with the Magic before, back in 2000. Granted he never played with then due to a season-ending injury, but that's all the more reason to sign now.
Right now I'd say it's 60-40 that Billups returns to Detroit. Being the 2004 Finals MVP, Dumars would probably prefer him over any of his other players. If he did leave, it would make the East wide open for Toronto, Cleveland, Miami, and Chicago. If he landed with the Magic, the Billups-Howard duo would make them a contender too, especially since the one team they struggle with is Detroit.
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