บท 177: Changing the Future for the Present? Bulls-Pistons Trade!
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However, as time passed, more relevant reports began to emerge, and it seemed like the situation was indeed serious.
In Wang Chong's memory, Billups played for the Pistons until 2011 before being traded to the Nuggets. Since it was only 2007, he wondered why the team was already looking to part ways with him. But upon deeper reflection, this development made a lot of sense.
Although Billups was often underestimated and overlooked due to his understated playing style, the championship point guard still held a certain status in the league, especially since he was a former Finals MVP.
In this timeline, however, due to Wang Chong's interference, the Pistons had lost the 2004 championship to the Lakers. Consequently, Billups' greatest career honor, the Finals MVP, had slipped away. As it stood, he had only accumulated two All-NBA selections and two All-Star appearances.
Moreover, the Pistons had suffered consecutive Finals losses and had fallen to Wang Chong's Bulls in the second round last season. The management had become increasingly intolerant of the team's current situation.
Was the team management seriously considering parting ways with Ben Wallace, the soul of the team, in the summer? So why would they keep Billups?
By the 2006-07 season, Chauncey Billups was already 30 years old. He had a player option after this season and wanted to opt out to sign a lucrative long-term contract worth tens of millions. He had averaged 18.5 points and 8.6 assists per game the previous season, making it reasonable for him to seek such a deal.
However, the Pistons were already contemplating a team rebuild, so how could they offer a veteran, who would turn 31 next season, a multi-year contract?
The two sides could not reach an agreement on an extension. Obviously, the management wanted to trade Billups while he was still a valuable asset, preferring to exchange him for some first-round picks to expedite the rebuilding process.
Wang Chong felt moved upon learning all this.
That's Billups!
Previously, he had considered Paul and Deron as the most suitable players for the Bulls' tactical system, but in reality, Billups was also a perfect fit.
What Wang Chong wanted was a point guard with outstanding all-around skills, capable of integrating offensive scoring, playmaking, and defense.
Billups met all these criteria.
As a point guard, Billups stood at 6'3" (1.91 meters) and weighed 205 pounds (92 kilograms). He was as strong as Deron Williams.
Offensively, Billups primarily scored from mid-range and long-range shots. Consequently, as a point guard, his field goal percentage was not particularly high, sitting at 41.5% for his career. However, his three-point shooting percentage was 38.5%, and threes accounted for 41.3% of his total shots, meaning his true shooting percentage was actually quite respectable, ranking among the best defenders year-round.
Particularly in the previous season, 2005-06, Billups averaged a career-high 18.5 points, shooting 43.3% from three-point range, even exceeding his overall field goal percentage.
While his offensive skillset had distinct characteristics, Billups' playmaking abilities were also commendable. Although he lacked the flashy and elegant passing style of Nash and didn't possess Kidd's steady and precise distribution, Billups had his own organizational playmaking style.
Many people see Billups averaging 5.4 assists per game in his career and assume his passing ability is poor. However, playmaking can't be solely measured by assists; it involves how he breaks down opposing defenses and utilizes multiple passes to score.
In this regard, Billups' playing style resembled that of the future small-ball era's "magic ball" style. As a point guard, he had a very high ratio of three-point attempts and low ball possession. He executed some off-ball movement tactics, so his assist numbers weren't high, but his assist-to-turnover ratio was well controlled.
If Billups' three-point shooting were more precise, he could easily be compared to Curry.
However, Billups' playing style resembled Harden more than Curry. This is why Wang Chong described Billups as having a "magic ball" style; whether it was in three-point shooting or foul drawing techniques, Billups seemed like a weaker version of Harden.
Yet, unlike Harden, who is offensively strong but defensively weak, the league had long recognized Billups' defensive prowess.
Billups was a two-time All-Defensive Team selection and spent seven seasons with the Pistons, known for their defensive skills. His defensive capabilities ranked among the highest for point guards.
Of course, Billups had some deficiencies. With his strong physique, he excelled in defending guards of similar strength, but his lateral movement speed struggled against quicker point guards like Ellis.
However, in the Bulls' system, it didn't matter if he couldn't defend smaller, more agile guards. With Chandler protecting the rim, any offensive player rushing into the paint would have their efficiency significantly affected.
Moreover, Billups' heavy reliance on threes and free throws made his scoring ability somewhat unstable. In particular, during the playoffs, he had games where he shot 1 for 10 or 3 for 12.
But that wasn't a significant concern. In the Bulls, Wang Chong was expected to handle the main scoring duties. There weren't many players in the league capable of matching Wang Chong's scoring ability.
Additionally, Billups had the nickname "Mr. Big Heart" and wouldn't shy away from critical moments in games.
After considering all of this, Wang Chong was genuinely moved.
If the Bulls could land Billups, their overall strength would undoubtedly elevate to a new level, and they might even have the ability to compete for the championship!
This was no joke. Although the Bulls currently had the best record in the league, there was still a significant gap between their real strength and that of the Spurs. Even if they could stand out in the weak Eastern Conference during the playoffs, they would never be able to overcome the Spurs.
However, with Billups, the outcome would not be certain. Although the combination of the Spurs' big three still had an advantage, at least they would have a fighting chance.
Just one day later, the Pistons' management received an offer from the Bulls.
Joe Dumars, once a star of the Bad Boys and now the team's general manager, looked at the Bulls' offer and pondered deeply.
"Are the Bulls really willing to trade Monta Ellis for Chauncey?"
Since the news broke that the Pistons wanted to trade Billups, they had received many offers. However, the Bulls' offer was clearly the most valuable.
Monta Ellis, only 21 years old, was averaging 18 points and 5 assists per game with the Bulls. His future had no limits.
It should be noted that Billups had only averaged 17 points and 7 assists per game so far this season, which wasn't significantly better than Ellis.
The veteran Billups, at 30 years old, could be traded for Ellis, making it a profitable transaction.
Bulls General Manager's Office
After general manager John Paxson hung up the phone, he told Wang Chong, who was sitting in front of him, "The other party accepted the trade."
Upon saying this, Paxson looked visibly unhappy.
It was normal for him to be discontent, as he wasn't optimistic about the deal. In fact, no general manager in the league would be optimistic about it.
While both players had similar statistics, there was a nearly ten-year age difference between them. Even though Billups had better experience and defensive skills than Ellis, when considering the long-term development of the team, Ellis would undoubtedly be the better choice.
But what could they do? As the general manager and the person with the most power in the team, Paxson had no say when it came to Wang Chong. He had to be submissive and didn't dare to raise his voice too much.
This was not only due to Wang Chong's performance and the Bulls' status but also because there was another more important reason. The 2006-07 season marked Wang Chong's fourth year in the league after being drafted. The fourth year served as a signal since it marked the end of the league's four-year rookie contract. Wang Chong would become a restricted free agent this summer and needed to re-sign a contract with the team.
At this critical moment, nobody in the Bulls' organization dared to offend Wang Chong, fearing that they might inadvertently make him unhappy and cause him to leave the Bulls. The skill level of this player had reached the highest tier in the league, and he still had a lot of potential. If a young player with room for improvement left the team for this reason, it wouldn't be long before they would find themselves in the general manager's chair.
Of course, since rookie contract players became restricted free agents, the Bulls could use league rules to match any contract offer Wang Chong received from other teams to keep him on the roster. But if Wang Chong really didn't plan to play for the Bulls, even if he was forced to stay, it would only hurt both sides, making the benefits not worth the trouble.
Therefore, whenever Wang Chong made a request, Paxson did everything in his power to comply, transforming entirely into a dog eager to please, doing his best to curry favor with Wang Chong.
It was just that once this trade was finalized, it would be a completely ungrateful act for the Bulls. It was still uncertain how much Billups could improve the team's strength, but at 30 years old, Billups' potential was finite.
"Next time, if we trade Ellis for a pick, do we have a chance of winning?" Paxson pondered.
If they traded Ellis for a pick, they would lose a great young player for just one more year.
Still, he hoped for the best.
The trade was announced soon after, and many journalists and fans raised their eyebrows at the news.
"Bulls Acquire Chauncey Billups!"
As expected, the media reacted in a frenzy. Many fans lamented the loss of Monta Ellis, a player with tremendous potential.
However, Billups' arrival ignited hope within the Bulls' fan base. After all, they had acquired a proven championship point guard.
Although it wasn't a perfect trade, it was already the best move the Bulls could make to bolster their roster.
Pistons' Practice Gym
Billups arrived at the Pistons' practice facility and greeted his teammates, saying, "Hey, everyone! I'm back!"
Billups had enjoyed his time in Detroit. They had given him a chance to revitalize his career, leading to his 2004 Finals MVP title.
However, it was time to bid farewell.
While the Pistons were no longer his home, they were also his starting point. He would forever cherish his memories there.
Bulls' Practice Gym
A few days later, Wang Chong had just returned from practice when he spotted Billups sitting in the locker room with a rather serious expression.
Wang Chong walked over and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Hey, we're on the same team now. Let's create a new history together!"
Billups glanced up, the seriousness in his expression softening. "You bet! I hope I can help you out."
"I believe you can!" Wang Chong's eyes sparkled with excitement.
With Billups joining the team, the atmosphere in the Bulls' locker room underwent a significant transformation.
In a league where chaos was commonplace, this trade marked the beginning of a new journey for both teams. For the Bulls, the championship dream was becoming a reality, while the Pistons were embarking on a rebuilding phase, leaving behind the shadows of past glories.
The upcoming season would not only test the strength of the Bulls but also redefine the futures of both franchises.
End of this chapter
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