The New York Knicks relinquished Chauncey Billups on Sat. by making use of their amnesty clause so they could afford Tyson Chandler, the gigantic man they got in a three-team deal. Chauncey Billups has been a team member during each stop of his NBA career, but that seems to be over following Saturday’s official statement that he has been surrendered by the New York Knicks as they used their new amnesty provision. Billups followed up on some pointed comments earlier in the week with far more comments that indicate he is seemingly prepared to take on a different role in the league. You will remember, as of 8 months back, Billups thought he was going to complete his career at home. After rebounding around from team to team and having to leave the group he’d won a championship with in Detroit, he was cushty in Denver. He was going to play one or two more years there, then join the organisation in another capacity The Knicks will still need to pay Billups what’s left of his $14.2 million contract, nonetheless it will not affect the income cap.
“I’m tired of being the good guy,” Billups told Yahoo! Sports by phone on Saturday afternoon. “I’m tired of being viewed as the guy. After a while, you just kind of get taken advantage of in these situations. I’ve been known as a leader, and I am a leader, but a leader can be as disruptive as he can be productive, especially when you carry a strong voice and people rally around you. This is about me now. This is about me, and teams should know that right now.”
“I just don’t deserve the treatment that I’ve continually gotten,” Billups said. “Historically, these things never happen to the supposed great players and good guys. They continually happen to me, and it gets old. Listen, I feel I’ve been blessed in the game, and I’ve been given back, but these things start to wear on you. But there’s not another guy in history who keeps dealing with this, getting thrown into these things to make the money right. I really believe it’s because people take my kindness and professionalism for weakness. They think I’ll be OK with this. I won’t be OK with this. I’ve saved my money. I may just retire if I don’t get my freedom here.
Via Billups Warns Teams Not To Claim Him Off Waivers, 12/10/11
The point guard will now be in a position to sign with any team he would like.
