Upcoming Free Agents: Chauncey Billups

With the free agency period of the summer quickly approaching, many players are beginning to shift their focus to their future. The best free agent on the market is Chauncey Billups. Billups has a great future in the NBA and one lucky team will have him in uniform next season. Here is a look at the story behind Billups and his upcoming free agenct status:

Story Before Free Agency - Chauncey signed a mid-level exception deal with the Detroit Pistons and played five straight seasons. Billups is signed for a sixth year but has a clause that allows him to opt out and seek more money.

Why A Free Agent? - As mentioned above, Chauncey has the option to opt out of his final year with the Pistons. Because of the high value of point guards in the NBA, expect Billups to look for more money this summer rather than next.

Strengths

• Confident shooter who can take over at the end of games. Accepts giving up open looks at the beginning of games to get his teammates more involved.
• Exceptional free-throw shooter with ice in his veins at the end of games.
• Great size for a point-guard. Can take just about any player who is defending him into the paint and post him up.
• Doesn't rely on his speed or athleticism as much as in his first years with the Pistons. Shows signs of being able to stay in the league effectively for many more seasons.

Accomplishments

� Two-time All-Star player.

� One NBA Championship.

� One NBA Finals MVP.

� Two-time NBA All-Defense Second Team player.

� One-time All-NBA Second Team player.

Expected Salary Offer - With Chauncey's talent and accomplishments, he is expected to garner offers to put him as one of the top-paid point-guards in the league. Steve Nash received 63 million dollars over six years. Billups is younger and healthier. Expect Billups to get something in the 70-75 million dollar range over six years.

Teams In The Mix

• Milwaukee Bucks - The Bucks are one of the few teams that can offer Billups a huge contract and they have already indicated they will attempt to pursue him. Billups would be a definite upgrade over Maurice Williams and would provide Michael Redd with a consistent second scorer who can set him up for more open looks.
• Detroit Pistons - The Pistons let Ben Wallace go because they didn't want to overpay for a player entering his decline. Chauncey Billups is one of the best point guards in the league who is in his prime! It would be team suicide to let him walk for nothing. Expect the Pistons to do everything they can to keep Chauncey.

Chauncey's Pick - Having already experienced a NBA championship once, it is clear that Billups still wants to lead a winning team that has a chance to win it all. But Chauncey also realizes his years of earning a large contract are waning, and this may be his last chance to make the big bucks. His comments indicate he would prefer to stay a Piston but would listen to other offers if the money is not there.

Telling Quote - "I would be lying if I said with 20-something games left until the playoffs that I wasn't thinking about my future," Billups said. "When the time comes, I've got to consider all of my options. I know this is one team [the Milwaukee Bucks] with a lot of money that's looking to get a point guard. I'm going to have to consider this option when the time comes.

Final Prediction - Detroit realize they would be giving up too much by letting Billups leave and give Chauncey the richest deal in Piston history. Seventy-two million dollars over six years to stay a Piston.