Joe Dumars was on WXYT’s Sports Inferno last night, and the Free Press took notes:
When asked if he was willing to offer Chauncey Billups a maximum contract, Dumars said “probably so.” Billups can opt out of his deal after this season. “We’re going to pay him, and we’re going to pay him to make sure he stays here,” Dumars said. “I’m not sitting here fretting about it right now because I know we’re going to do whatever it takes to keep the guy here.”
So that pretty much ends that discussion.
In the interview, Joe also denies the notion that he’s been told to avoid the luxury tax and confirms that Philly came sniffing around in the offseason gauging interest in a potential Allen Iverson trade.
The rumor, The Answer [Detroit Free Press]
Similar rhetoric about Wallace. Believe it when you see it.
True, but the rhetoric about Wallace as that we’d make him the highest-paid Piston, which we tried to do. This rhetoric alludes to a max contract, which is a trump card when/if actually played.
Btw, Billups’ max deal starts at just over $17 million.
Chauncey deserves a max contract and I think Joe D will give it to him. Ben didnt deserve a max offer, and the highest paid Piston offer was just out of respect for what he did for the organization.
please please please please, keep Chanucey in Detroit, Ben was the heart of the team and Chauncey is the soul, give him the dough he deserves every penny that you have to offer to him, nobody can replace him. We love all four of those All-Stars( Tayshaun will make it his year)and we want to keep the rest of those guys together, so come on Joe pay up!!!!!!!
First let me preface by saying I love Chauncey Billups. I think he is a top 5 point guard in the NBA and a great leader, but lets get something straight; Chauncey Billups is NOT a max contract player. Look at some of the max contract players in the league: Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Shaq. Now compare Chauncey Billups to any one of those players and he doesn’t match up. He is a great player, dont get me wrong, but to give a 30 year old non-superstar player a max 6 year contract is a bad move.————Reasonable second option is Mo Williams from Milwaukee (check his stats).