When the latest trade rumors surrounding Carmelo Anthony hinted that the Denver Nuggets were thinking of including hometown hero Chauncey Billups in the deal, it was too much for most fans to handle. Their frustration is summed up by The Denver Post’s Mark Kiszla with these simple words: “The team is doing Billups wrong.” Fox 31 agrees that Billups’ departure would be the worst part of the entire agonizing process given his strong ties to the community and the fact that he’s happy to be playing and living in the town where he grew up.

“Basketball is going to be basketball,” Billups says. “I’m going to play that anywhere. But the family part is the most difficult situation. My girls are old enough that they know. They hear fans saying, ‘We’re going to miss you.'” Even Anthony is upset that Billups has been dragged into this morass, notes The Denver Post.

The situation appears to be impacting Billups on the court, as well. After solid play in the last few games, he saw one of his worst performances this season in Denver’s 132-98 blowout of the Phoenix Suns last night. Billups scored just seven points in the win, the second-lowest point total of any Nuggets starter (box score via NBA.com).