NBA Trade Rumors: Knicks Should Keep Billups Instead of Acquiring Chris Paul

The New York Knicks are one of many teams who will pursue Chris Paul in the short offseason before Christmas, but they would be much better off sticking with veteran point guard Chauncey Billups.

Paul is a great player, and probably the best point guard in the NBA, but Billups' experience in the playoffs and the leadership he provides the Knicks is so valuable to them.

The New York Daily News reported that the Knicks could have real interest in Paul, but this would be a poor move.

Billups' experience is so important to a Knicks team that lacks a lot of NBA Finals experience. The team's two best players, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, do not have Finals experience and don't know what it's like to be a champion.

Billups is a former Finals MVP and played very well for the Knicks last season. He brings leadership and composure in late-game situations for New York, and having that is crucial for a young team hoping to contend for a championship.

Paul would give the Knicks more scoring than Billups at the point guard spot, but the team does not need more scoring.

Between Landry Fields, Anthony, and Stoudemire, the Knicks have plenty of offense. What they need is more veteran leadership and defense.

Paul is a good defensive player, but he isn't a major upgrade over Billups in that area. The Knicks are a team ready to compete for a title and giving up talent for Paul right now just isn't worth it.

They are much better off waiting until the summer so they don't have to give up players such as Landry Fields and ruin their depth.

The Knicks don't need Chris Paul to win games this season, and with Billups they have a quality player who can be a leader on a team hoping to get to the next level this year and win a playoff series.