The team was getting old. At the beginning of the year, it was the same team that beat the Lakers in 2004 minus Ben Wallace.

Billups was traded for AI's $20M expiring salary. Rasheed's gone, Tayshaun Prince will probably get traded, and Rip Hamilton wants off the team unless Michael Curry gets fired which is a good possibility.

If they clean house this year, they could potentially clear enough cap space to get into the Lebron sweepstakes.