Blazers reach out to Chauncey Billups

[Sheldon Shape]

http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landingb...Chauncey-Billups=1&blockID=734338&feedID=5212

Chris Haynes, CSNNW.com Trail Blaze...r game, 2.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assist.[/QUOTE]

 

[HailBlazers]

Wow, finally a name I approve of. Perfect player for Lillard to model his game after.

 

[Masbee]

After drafting Lillard and annoiting him PGOTF even before training camp, and with our GM having wooed and signed Billups to the Clippers, isn't this the easiest to guess off-season move?

I love Billups game, seems a good fit for us. I am concerned about his health. Does anyone know if Billups has fully recovered or what?

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Olshey kept on mentioning Billups, I think they have a really good relationship. I think if he retires he joins the coaching staff.

 

[RR7]

I would really like it if we brought him in. Would be a good addition on and off the court, IMO.

 

[Natebishop3]

I have always liked Billups, but does he really want to play for a team that very well might be in the lottery again next season?

 

[BBert]

Agreed Masbee, completely predictable and expected. And hoped for (by me).

 

[Minstrel]

So this would be an MLE signing once the Blazers go over the cap with Hibbert and Batum (assuming they get Hibbert)? Can Portland acquire all three players?

I, too, like the idea of acquiring Billups. Right a terrible wrong in the jettisoning of Andre Miller. (Though Billups fits even better.)

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I have always liked Billups, but does he really want to play for a team that very well might be in the lottery again next season?

Maybe he waits to see what other moves take place. But at this point in his career, maybe he'd just enjoy the opportunity and the paycheck. He does have a ring, and he's had a solid career, so he may be okay with it.

 

[RR7]

So this would be an MLE signing once the Blazers go over the cap with Hibbert and Batum (assuming they get Hibbert)? Can Portland acquire all three players?

I, too, like the idea of acquiring Billups. Right a terrible wrong in the jettisoning of Andre Miller. (Though Billups fits even better.)

With the 3 day matching period, they can technically sign Billups beforehand for about 3-4 million, or the difference between Hibbert's deal and our cap space.

 

[Minstrel]

I have always liked Billups, but does he really want to play for a team that very well might be in the lottery again next season?

If the Blazers acquired Hibbert, along with Billups and keeping Batum, I don't see them in the lottery. If Lillard and/or Leonard are contributors, the Blazers might even contend for 5-6 seed.

 

[Minstrel]

With the 3 day matching period, they can technically sign Billups beforehand for about 3-4 million, or the difference between Hibbert's deal and our cap space.

Ah, I didn't realize that the Blazers had $3-4 million cap space over and above the offer to Hibbert. Thanks.

 

[RR7]

Ah, I didn't realize that the Blazers had $3-4 million cap space over and above the offer to Hibbert. Thanks.

I think the initial estimate was roughly 16.5 Could possibly be more if Shawne is stretch waived. Hibbert's first year would be 12.9. So we would be best served to use up that 3.6 before matching or signing Batum, since after signing him, all we would have left is 2.5 MLE and league minimum.

 

[South East]

So this would be an MLE signing once the Blazers go over the cap with Hibbert and Batum (assuming they get Hibbert)? Can Portland acquire all three players?

I, too, like the idea of acquiring Billups. Right a terrible wrong in the jettisoning of Andre Miller. (Though Billups fits even better.)

Blazers don't have the MLE, they will get the new room exemption for teams under the cap. It will only be $2.5 million. Billups has talked a lot about how much he likes the Clippers now and likes playing with Paul. It will be interesting if Olshey can convince him to come here.

I will say now if Olshey can get Hibbert and Billups and retain Batum along with the draft picks that is about as good an offseason as Portland could realisticly expect for both short and long term success. Still lots of "ifs" in there but he will have done some real work in his first month on the job.

 

[Masbee]

So this would be an MLE signing once the Blazers go over the cap with Hibbert and Batum (assuming they get Hibbert)? Can Portland acquire all three players?

I, too, like the idea of acquiring Billups. Right a terrible wrong in the jettisoning of Andre Miller. (Though Billups fits even better.)

Teams with cap space larger than the MLE, don't get an MLE to use that year.

Not sure what we can pay Billups and I am sure that will be a big issue. Unless we can pay Billups reasonably big money, I would assume he would go ring chasing with Miami, OKC, etc.

 

[RR7]

Teams with cap space larger than the MLE, don't get an MLE to use that year.

Not sure what we can pay Billups and I am sure that will be a big issue. Unless we can pay Billups reasonably big money, I would assume he would go ring chasing with Miami, OKC, etc.

Teams with cap space get a 2.5 million dollar exception once they use their cap space.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Teams with cap space get a 2.5 million dollar exception once they use their cap space.

Enough to sign Solomon Alabi

 

[Minstrel]

Yeah, I was aware that the exception that teams with cap space got, once they spent up over the line, was smaller than those that began free agency without cap space. I just wasn't sure what it was called.

 

[Masbee]

Billups / Lillard / Nolan
Williams / Wes
Batum / Babbitt
LaMarcus /
Hibbert / Leonard

OR

Lillard / Nolan
Williams / Wes
Babbitt
LaMarcus /
Leonard

One is better than the other

 

[Masbee]

Yeah, I was aware that the exception that teams with cap space got, once they spent up over the line, was smaller than those that began free agency without cap space. I just wasn't sure what it was called.

Full MLE and Mini MLE

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

This would be a great move. A great mentor for Lillard and overall a calming influence that OKC got when they signed Fisher.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Billups / Lillard / Nolan
Williams / Wes
Batum / Babbitt
LaMarcus /
Hibbert / Leonard

OR

Lillard / Nolan
Williams / Wes
Babbitt
LaMarcus /
Leonard

One is better than the other

One is apples and one is oranges

 

[Masbee]

One is apples and one is oranges

I like fruit.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I like cocktail, fruit.

FTFY.

 

[MickZagger]

Billups would be great. Supposedly one of the best locker room guys in the league. I'm just uncertain about his health.

 

[ironcrotch]

Not sure you go after Billups to be a significant on court contributor. He'd be more of a veteran presence and mentor of Lillard.

 

[Draco]

Not sure you go after Billups to be a significant on court contributor. He'd be more of a veteran presence and mentor of Lillard.

20mpg would be great!

 

[Draco]

I tend to think the Clips are not going to let him walk away, they’d give him up to $5 million to stick around for one year and I don’t see us matching that. The Clips don't need any exception or cap room to sign him to that type of a deal.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I tend to think the Clips are not going to let him walk away, they’d give him up to $5 million to stick around for one year and I don’t see us matching that. The Clips don't need any exception or cap room to sign him to that type of a deal.

Donald Sterling.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think I said this in one of the Damian Lillard draft threads ... Billups is basically exactly the guy I think of when I think about a point guard with a sweet shot, but a lot of savvy, probably Lillard's ceiling if he's able to make the transition.