ESPN analyst Chauncey Billups wants to run an NBA team in the near future, according to an Associated Press report. Billups turned down the Cavaliers’ GM job last summer, saying then it would tough to rebuild the team if LeBron James bolted. Rumors flew this summer that he’d be a candidate for a Pistons’ front-office post but he wasn’t seriously considered. “My desire is to one day run a team, be in a front office and try to build a champion,” Billups said. “I know that I will and I know I’m going to do a good job. When that opportunity presents itself, and it’s a good opportunity, I’ll be ready to go.”
In other news from around the league and overseas:
- LeBron James will skip next week’s USA Basketball minicamp, Dave McMenamin of ESPN writes. It will be the first official session for USA Basketball with the Spurs’ Gregg Popovich as the head coach.
- Dwyane Wade could be a bargain for the Heat or another team still shopping for a free agent guard, according to another AP story. Wade could probably be signed in the $5MM range. Vince Carter, Michael Beasley and restricted free agent Marcus Smart are three other veteran free agents who could offer value at a bargain rate, the story adds.
- Former NBA forward Chase Budinger is pursuing a career in volleyball, Drew Ruiz of HoopsHype reports. Budinger is chasing an Olympic dream and has become a partner with two-time Olympian Sean Rosenthal on the AVP Beach Volleyball circuit. “That’s been a goal of mine since I was in high school, to be on an Olympic team and playing for the USA,” Budinger told Ruiz. Budinger’s NBA career ended after he played 17 games for the Suns in the second half of the 20015/16 season.
- Former NBA guard Mike James has signed a lucrative offer sheet with Italy’s Olimpia Milano through the 2021 season, international expert David Pick tweets. James started 10 games for the Suns last season and appeared in 32 games overall, averaging 10.4 PPG and. 3.8 APG. After getting waived, he played four games with the Pelicans before getting waived again. He then had a second stint with Greece’s Panathinaikos Athens and won a championship.
I read Nike is big in Japan (where Olympics will be played) and China (where FIBA will be played). Saw Kawhi is having trouble getting new contract with NIKE. If he skips FIBA and Olympics, it will make matters worse.
Honest question, and I ask this with no disrespect to Billups: What experience does he have that would make people think he’s a good GM off the bat? I could see him being a good AGM and learning the ropes first and THEN get the top gig. But other than being a good human and a smart guy what are his qualifications?
I tend to agree with your sentiment on Billups needing some experience and easing into a GM role.
I mean, he was a solid, knowledgeable player during his career. He knows how to scout players through film, and he knows how to dissect a player’s game and abilities. However, even with that being said, it’s already been proven before that just because you’re a great player, that doesn’t mean you’ll translate well in a management role..
I’ve heard and read over the past two years, Billups has been in contact with, and picking the brains of, some current and former GMs, and trying to get a better feel for what it would take to be a successful NBA GM…
I’m sure those conversations will help him, AND another aspect that could potentially help Billups be successful is the fact that the vast majority of current NBA players have a TON of respect for Billups. So, I think he’d be an asset wherever he winds up, and I think he should be able to attract some quality free agents wherever he goes, to a certain extent of course…
If Billups does eventually sign with a team as their GM, his assistant GM and head coach will be paramount to his level of success..Billups is a smart man, and I think he’d hire someone with a similar background as Pelinka, so he can handle the business side of decisions and deal more with potential agents..Then, he would also need to hire a veteran, intelligent coach as his guy.
If he continues to have conversations learning the craft, and if he ends up hiring an experienced staff, it’ll ultimately help Billups be successful in the long-run..He can evaluate and attract talent, then let his AGM, manage ironing out the deals and contracts, and then let his coach, coach up the players he acquires..If he sticks to that plan, then I’m sure Billups can be successful from DAY 1!!
Sure, as long as somebody is there to make the actual decisions. It took him 15 days to turn down the Cavs job, until july 3, when july 1 was the opening of FA negotiations.
His salary would be wasted and he would be bored. Unless he’s out as a TV commentator.
He’d be fine. He loves tape and helping players. I think he would make a good transition
Wow what a stud is Chase playing beach volley, I think he should had done it earlier on, though of course he set himself up for life with the NBA, but the guy can play.
Can the Timberwolves please make a run at Carter for Wiggins’s sake.