Recently I read an article about how Chauncy Billups was urging his fellow players to support the union and by extension it's lead executives Derek Fisher and Billy Hunter in their negotiations with Stern and the owners. His position as best I can tell is that the union will get the best deal for the players and that player's agents should be kept out of the negotiations.

Why would Chauncy take this outrageously dumb position? Why do players hire agents in the first place? To make deals and negotiate for them, no? That is what agents do for a living. The good ones are very good at it. So now in the most important negotiations in the players professional lifetime, Billups uses his elder statesman status to promote the idea of not using  their best negotiators in these meetings. The owners must be salivating.

Why would I want the soon to retire and already made his money Billy Hunter, and the soon to retire also with some political motives Derek Fisher to represent my best interests. If I am a player, I want to let the sharks(agents) loose on the owners. I want the A Team representing me, not these clowns.

So why would Chauncy do this? Maybe David Stern has promised him the front office position he covets upon his retirement if his work behind enemy lines pays off. Stern apparently never forgets a favor, and Billups efforts would certainly constitute a gift for the owners. Despite what he says, letting the agents into the process opens the door to decertification and a court battle that could kill the season and cost him $14 million.