Billups signs 5-year deal with Pistons
The Detroit Pistons retained the face and point guard of their franchise, one year after losing a leader in free agency.
Chauncey Billups signed a $60 million, five-year contract Wednesday with the Pistons, returning to the team he helped reach five straight conference finals.
The contract is worth $46 million guaranteed over four years and includes a team option for the fifth year.
It appears that the deal worked out for both sides because even though the two-time All-Star was one of the NBA’s top free agents this summer, other teams didn’t seem to be willing or able to compete with Detroit’s offer.
Billups was the NBA finals MVP three years ago, when Detroit beat a Los Angeles Lakers team that included Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, and he nearly led the Pistons to another title the next year.
Blazers buy out Francis
The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed on a buyout with guard Steve Francis, who was acquired in a draft-night deal with the New York Knicks.
Francis, who was due $34 million over the final two years of his contract, was expected to clear waivers and become an unrestricted free agent.
The terms of the buyout with the Trail Blazers were not released.
The Blazers acquired Francis and Channing Frye from the Knicks in exchange for Zach Randolph, Dan Dickau and Fred Jones on June 28.
Also on the first day of free-agent signings, the Blazers and the Phoenix Suns completed a deal that sent James Jones and the draft rights to Spanish guard Rudy Fernandez to Portland in exchange for $3 million and other considerations.
Hill looking for a title
Free agent Grant Hill chose the Phoenix Suns because he wants the same thing they do: an NBA title. A championship trophy has eluded the Suns since their birth in 1968 and Hill during an injury-plagued 13-year career.
“I’m sure everybody knows I’ve been through a lot,” said Hill, who was introduced at a news conference. “But I feel like this is a reward, the opportunity to play here and try to win a world championship.”
Around the league
Former Eastern Washington star Rodney Stuckey scored 17 points for the Pistons in their summer league victory over the Washington Wizards at Las Vegas. … Gerald Wallace and the Bobcats reached an agreement in principle that would keep the team’s leading scorer in Charlotte, executive vice president of basketball operations Bernie Bickerstaff said. … Darko Milicic agreed in principle to a three-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. Terms were not announced. … The Philadelphia 76ers signed a pair of first-round draft picks: forward Thaddeus Young and 7-footer Jason Smith. … Center Marc Gasol, the younger brother of Grizzlies forward Pau Gasol who was drafted with the 48th pick by the Los Angeles Lakers, is going to stay another season in Spain for now. … Former NBA player and University of Maryland star Lonny Baxter will plead guilty next week to a federal charge that he broke the law when he shipped guns from Texas to Maryland last year, his attorney said. … The Toronto Raptors signed Jason Kapono and are trying to add Maceo Baston. Toronto signed Indiana’s restricted free-agent forward to an offer sheet, and the Pacers have seven days to match the offer.