NBA Free Agency: Chauncey Billups Returns To The Detroit Pistons

Jun 9, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Chauncey Billups (right) is awarded the inaugural Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award trophy honoring best teammate in the NBA during by commissioner David Stern during a press conference prior to game two of the 2013 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Almost 10 years after leading the Detroit Pistons to an NBA title and winning Finals MVP, Chauncey Billups is headed back to Motown, agreeing to a 2-year deal with the Pistons.  Yahoo! Sports has reported that the deal will be around $5 million.

Billups, now 36, hopes to finish his career where he played during the prime of his career.  With the group of Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace, and Rasheed Wallace, it wasn’t long that the Pistons were dubbed “Bad Boys 2”, for their tough team defense that rubbed off from their days in the late 1980’s.

Billups spent 6-plus seasons in Detroit before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2008 as part of the deal that sent Allen Iverson to the Pistons.  The franchise hasn’t been the same since, missing the playoffs for the last 4 years; while Billups helped the Nuggets reach the Conference Finals in ’09.

Billups spent the last 2 seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, and won the inaugural Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award this past season.

This signing takes another point guard off the market for the Houston Rockets, who are currently exploring offers for Jeremy Lin.  The Rockets entertained the idea of a possible sign-and-trade with the Pistons for Jose Calderon, but the veteran point guard signed with the Dallas Mavericks last week.  But the market for available starting point guards is diminishing, and there are few options out there that would be an upgrade or a better fit for the Rockets.