NBA Rumors: Chauncey Billups Right To Retire If He Can't Find Contender

One of the NBA's steadiest players of the last decade is apparently not far from retirement. 

Ian O'Connor of ESPN New York is reporting that the Knicks are going to use their amnesty clause on Chauncey Billups. In the same report, O'Connor quoted Billups' agent, saying that Billups will likely retire before going to a non-contending team. 

This is really an easy decision for Billups.

For one, it's hard to imagine a contending team not being interested in Billups. His numbers have been remarkably consistent throughout his career. There aren't many real contenders out there that couldn't use a point guard who consistently averages between 15 and 20 points per game, five assists per contest and shoots over 90 percent from the free-throw line. 

Throw that in with an embarrassingly thin point guard market that makes up this year's free-agent class, and the fact that Billups is 35 doesn't seem too relevant. 

But we're not looking at that. For a second, let's just say that I am wrong and no contender has any interest in Billups.

He's not a big enough name to go to a bad team and have that draw in other players. Billups is the kind of player that needs to go to an existing situation with talent around him. That's where he'll thrive. 

To top all of that off, Billups has nothing to prove anymore. He can obviously still play, but he has no need to go to a bad team to try to help them rebuild.

He's a five-time All-Star, has won a championship and won the NBA Finals MVP en route to that title. There's nothing more to prove there. His resume speaks for itself.

Personally, a contender needs to go out and sign him. He'd be an excellent fit in Miami, as well as a place like Chicago to help Derrick Rose. Also, if the Lakers can't acquire Chris Paul, Billups is not a terrible fit there.

He's an old player but, unlike Derek Fisher, can still produce. 

It would be foolish for a contending team to pass him over. But if they do, Billups has nothing to gain by going to a bad team. 

At the very least, he can retire and wait until the season gets going. Chances are pretty good that an injury will occur at some point. When it does, teams will be hard pressed to pass on him.

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