Billups speaks...

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: Billups speaks...

In a recent interview during a Pistons pre-game show Joe D explained that he has also experienced this situation. During the middle of the 1988-1989 season, he mentioned that he was furious when a teammate who happened to be his best friend was traded. That guy was Adrian Dantley. And the rest is history.

Now what does this have to do with Rip? A lot. Joe D knew from experiencing that feeling himself with Dantley being dealt that this is the best way to get the extention done with Rip without allowing Rip's emotions from knowing Billups had been traded cloud his judgment and react in a way which could potentially force a delay or further postpone any following business moves that falls in line with him signing the contract. This act doesn't make Joe D sketchy as a person, especially when he had announced early in the summer that everyone on the team except for Rodney Stuckey was on the market to begin with.

Kruza

BS.

Joe D is just trying to save face.

He needs to stick with what he said and that he's trying to clear room for 2010 and he didn't realize the ramifications of re-signing Billups at the time.

[Court_vision]

Re: Billups speaks...

I can see the players point of view as sportspeople...

But man, these guys are on million$$$$$.

If someone wants to pay you $60 million...they have the right to trade you / do want they want.

If you don't like it...sign a one year $1 million deal each season with a no trade clause. Simple.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Billups speaks...

Yup, I'm with you CV.

Obviously these guys are human so of course there's going to be hurt feelings. But in no way am I going to feel bad for you for being traded. I can understand why it's sad for you, but you get little sympathy. There's no way I'm going to view Joe as a snake or anything like that.

[Tomba]

Re: Billups speaks...

Interesting about the Rip extention and if he would have accepted knowing that billups was going?

it's true guys get close to their teammates and LIKE playing with them and start feeling a chemistry.

makes me like hamilton more now though

[HMcCoy]

Re: Billups speaks...

Some players can get the same $$$ from five or six different clubs, and have factors other than money to consider when they sign. The area, family concerns, and team makeup. He should have let Rip know what was going on and let him make an informed decision.

At least Joe sent Chauncey to a really good situation, though.

[Taur3asi3]

Re: Billups speaks...

This is really OT but Isiah Thomas deserves all he gets for the way he screwed Dantley. I never knew Dumars and Dantley were close, it makes me wonder if there was every any split or problems in the locker room with Isiah having them bring in his best friend Mark Aguirre.

[Kruza]

Re: Billups speaks...

BS.

Joe D is just trying to save face.

He needs to stick with what he said and that he's trying to clear room for 2010 and he didn't realize the ramifications of re-signing Billups at the time.

It wouldn't be wise for Joe D to publicly announce that he was trying to clear cap space for 2010 with the trade. Doing this could possibly have a negative affect on sales for this season and for next season. Plus this sends a bad message to players and fans that business supercedes putting together a contending team. This deal was done simply because the Nuggets had finally decided to put Iverson on the trading block. If he wasn't available, then Billups would still be here. The fact that AI's current contract comes off the books before the summer of 2010 happens to be a bonus. AI wasn't on the market during the time Billups got the contract extension.

And let's not forget that Joe D tried to trade for AI back in the 2001 season as well. He's always wanted The Answer.

Kruza