Knicks Waive Goodbye to Veteran Guard Chauncey Billups

Knicks Waive Goodbye to Veteran Guard Chauncey Billups
JoJo Doria

New York, NY

The New York Knicks used their amnesty clause to waive veteran guard Chauncey Billups.

The Knicks officially cut their ties with Billups, whom they acquired in a package with Carmelo Anthony before last season's trade deadline.

Knicks interim general manager Glen Grunwald asserted the move was made to create cap space in acquiring free-agent center Tyson Chandler, who reportedly signed a four-year, $58 million deal.

We didn't want to get rid of Chauncey," Grunwald told ESPN Saturday. "When I talked to him today I told him, 'Chauncey it's not like we're waiving you because we don't want you. Look at it for what it is: We traded you basically for the starting center on the NBA championship team.'"

Billups is due to earn $14.2 million in his contract and can be acquired by teams under the salary cap.

Yet, the former all-star hinted retirement If a non-championship contender picked him off the waivers.

"If I get claimed by a team I don't want to play for, I would absolutely consider retirement," Billups told ESPN Saturday. I want to be able to play for something, a championship, and I want to be able to have my own destiny in my hands. If I don't, then retiring might have to be a decision I make."

Billups, five-time NBA all-star, averaged 17.5 points and 5.5 dimes in his short tenure with the Knicks. He has a career average of 15.5 points and 5.6 dimes.