NBA Free Agents 2011: Possible Destinations for Chauncey Billups
One of the most surprising NBA moves made in the last few days was the New York Knicks practicing the amnesty clause on veteran point guard Chauncey Billups.
The Knicks made this move to clear $14.2 million owed to Billups this year in order to sign former Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler to a four-year, $56 million deal.
While the Knicks will suffer at the point after trading away Raymond Felton (now with the Portland Trail Blazers) to acquire Billups, the 35-year-old NBA veteran will be a huge wild card in the free-agent market.
Billups has told the media that he wants to clear waivers to become a free agent so he could sign with a contender.
Here are the possible teams who could make a move for Billups.
Chauncey Billups Signs with Denver Nuggets
1 of 4Chauncey Billups was traded to the Denver Nuggets at the beginning of the 2008-09 NBA season when the Detroit Pistons' championship window closed.
Billups really enjoyed his stay with the Nuggets as a fan favorite, taking them to the playoffs both years and the 2009 Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
He posted some of this best career numbers with the Nuggets, including scoring a career-high 19.5 points a game in the 2009-10 campaign.
When the Nuggets traded Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks last February, they were upset that they had to part with Billups.
The Nuggets are a contender who could use a point guard after letting Raymond Felton go to the Portland Trail Blazers for Andre Miller.
Billups is a better point guard than Miller and the Nuggets could use someone of Billups' talent level after J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin and Wilson Chandler are all stuck in China until March while center Nene Hilario might sign elsewhere.
Signing Billups would go a long way for the Nuggets to make the playoffs as Ty Lawson, Al Harrington and Danilo Gallinari provide a strong core.
Chauncey Billups Signs with the Chicago Bulls
2 of 4This one could be a stretch, but the Chicago Bulls could be an attractive option for Chauncey Billups.
The Bulls have been striking out in finding a good shooting guard to be MVP Derrick Rose's floor mate.
Already, most of the free agents have been snagged up, including Jason Richardson signing a four-year deal with the Orlando Magic for $25 million.
The Golden State Warriors' Monta Ellis would require a trade and the Bulls would have to outbid the Washington Wizards for Nick Young.
With that in mind, Billups might be attracted to the Bulls. They could convert him to play as a shooting guard and he would share the backcourt with an explosive Rose. Billups could take over ball-handling duties if Rose is being pressed or mask-guarded too hard, allowing Rose to play off the ball more.
A starting lineup of Rose, Billups, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah would arguably be the best in the NBA.
The Bulls are also interested in signing Billups' former teammate Richard Hamilton to fill in as the starting shooting guard. Billups has a close working relationship with Hamilton, as the two won an NBA Championship together with the Detroit Pistons.
If that happens, Billups could be the sixth man the Bulls lacked in 2010-11 while being the primary backup for both Rose and Hamilton.
Chauncey Billups Signs with Los Angeles Lakers
3 of 4The Los Angeles Lakers could use a player like Chauncey Billups, and the top free agent could use a contender like the Lakers.
Last year, the Lakers were a tough team to beat even with a horrible situation at the point guard position. Derek Fisher is on his last legs and Steve Blake is not even an average player.
The talent lacking at the point guard position was a major reason why the Dallas Mavericks handily swept the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.
Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant needs someone to take the backcourt pressure off him. Billups has always been a strong offensive player, averaging 15.5 points and 5.6 assists a game during his 14-year career.
Billups would help facilitate Los Angeles' offense while allowing Kobe to play off the ball more.
With Metta World Peace (Ron Artest), Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol all coming back, the Lakers would be a dangerous team indeed if Billups inked a deal.
Chauncey Billups Signs with Miami Heat
4 of 4A major suitor for Chauncey Billups is Miami.
The Heat were just two games short of winning the NBA Finals, falling to the Dallas Mavericks.
Miami did not have the best point guard situation last year, as they depended on the inconsistent Mario Chalmers and signing former Atlanta Hawks player Mike Bibby late in the season.
Bibby is out of town now while Chalmers still hasn't proven he could be a consistent facilitator.
Billups would provide that, as he is a great passer who rarely turns the ball over. His assist numbers might balloon as superstars Dwyane Wade and LeBron James fly across the floor in an up-tempo style that Billups is used to.
Plus, power forward Chris Bosh provides a solid post presence for some easy baskets.
This also doesn't include Billups' own scoring abilities, which would make the Heat nearly unbeatable.
The Heat are gearing for a title run after signing both Eddie Curry and Shane Battier, but adding Billups would send a huge statement throughout the NBA that the Heat are not afraid of anyone.
