On the verge of signing Billups, Mitchell stated, Saunders sought counsel from Timberwolves gamers comparable to Mitchell, level guard Terrell Brandon and All-Star Kevin Garnett. Mitchell, Brandon and Garnett have been assured that the newcomer would do nicely in Minneapolis, and Billups and Garnett have been shut mates relationship again to their AAU days. The Timberwolves signed Billups to a three-year contract for the wage cap exception, paying $2.25 million within the first 12 months. “Flip was like, ‘They are saying he’s egocentric. They are saying he’s this, they are saying he’s that,’ ” Mitchell recalled. “And I stated, ‘Flip, I don’t know him. However why don’t you give him an opportunity?’ So, when he obtained right here, Chauncey instructed me that when he was in Boston, Toronto and Denver, they gave up on him as some extent guard they usually simply instructed him simply are available in and attempt to rating. In order that’s what he did. “After which when he got here to Minnesota, I stated, ‘Dude, when you actually wish to discover ways to play the place, and when you actually wish to change how individuals consider you, you see that man proper there, Terrell Brandon, watch the whole lot he does and speak to him. He’s a pure level guard …’ Chauncey instructed me, ‘I wish to play the place. Nobody has ever taught me the place.’ ” -via Andscape / October 11, 2024
