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Chauncey Billups looking to move into Pistons’ front-office after retirement

Sidelined by an injury that has kept him inactive for most of the 2013-14 NBA season, Pistons guard Chauncey Billups is ready to move forward to the next phase of his basketball career, which could mean having a front-office position in the Detroit organization.

With 16 years of NBA playing experience under his belt, the 37-year-old former Finals MVP is expected to be an asset for the Pistons management which is preparing for a new era of leadership following the resignation of Joe Dumars recently as the team’s General Manager.

Michael Conroy
Michael Conroy

Drafted in 1997 by the Boston Celtics, Billups suited up for the Celtics, Raptors, Nuggets (twice), Timberwolves, Pistons (twice), Knicks and the Clippers. During his first tour of duty with Detroit, he led the team to the 2004 NBA title over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Per the Detroit News:

After helping the Pistons win their first title in 15 years, the Pistons guard wanted to learn about the business side of the NBA. Life in the front office.

So Billups began sitting in on meetings with then-team president Joe Dumars and his assistants, Scott Perry and John Hammond.

Billups learned how to set up a draft room. He learned what executives looked for when evaluating talent.

Now, he believes he’s ready to move into the front office.

“Yeah, it is something I think I could do,” Billups said.

The Pistons front office is in flux and needs to be cleaned out. That process began when Dumars was let go and given the title of “consultant.”

Now, the next generation of leadership needs to be addressed.

With a management team perceived to be a group of outsiders, hiring Billups makes sense — he can serve as a bridge between the past and future of the organization.

“First I had to think about if I wanted to coach or if I wanted to do executive work,” Billups said. “I learned a lot. I kind of sat up under those guys and I gained a lot of experience.”

Billups is attractive as an executive because he’s more than a basketball player. He’s a businessman — he co-owns 30 Wendy’s restaurants with former NBA player Junior Bridgeman.

“Being a leader of a team, you have to know what works,” Billups said.

“You have to be able to evaluate talent, egos. Being a point guard and evaluating a team is a small snapshot I believe helps you put together a team.”

Billups’ days as a player are behind him. The problem is, he still has the fire to get the Pistons back on track. He still wants to play and is willing to go through the trials of camp to do that.

Photos c/o Duane Burleson and Michael Conroy (Associated Press)

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