Billups picked up by Clippers

[Andrew]

Via Yahoo! NBA:

As Chauncey Billups prepares to have his name entered into the NBA’s amnesty waiver wire, he has a message for teams considering putting in a bid to secure him for the rest of the season: You’ll regret it.

He wants the freedom of free agency to choose a contender, Billups says. As one of the game’s great leaders, and gentlemen, Billups warns that player will be a distant memory should a team claim him off the amnesty waiver wire.

“I’ m tired of being the good guy,” Billups told Yahoo! Sports by phone on Saturday afternoon. “I’m tired of being viewed as the guy. After a while, you just kind of get taken advantage of in these situations. I’ve been known as a leader, and I am a leader, but a leader can be as disruptive as he can be productive, especially when you carry a strong voice and people rally around you. This is about me now. This is about me, and teams should know that right now.”

Can't really blame him after all the times he's moved around in his career, even after establishing himself as an All-Star and one of the league's best point guards. His best days are behind him but I'd say he's still got quite a bit left in the tank so any team that he is willing to play for will make out like bandits if they can acquire his services in the wake of being amnestied. Supposedly the Heat are in contention, which would certainly be a great move for them and a huge upgrade over Mario Chalmers and the New York-bound Mike Bibby.

[deihatein]

Any chance he could go to the Mavs without Cuban overpaying him somehow?

[Andrew]

Depends what the minimum offer teams can make to amnestied players will be, according to cap guru Larry Coon. So maybe.

[Jhiane]

I think he want to go back to Denver

[Andrew]

Perhaps, but they've got Andre Miller back now.

[Nick]

^ Not to mention Ty Lawson.

But yeah, as andrew said, you can't blame the guy. He's probably sick of moving his family around, and he probably just wants to plant the anchor and settle. No doubt he'll be looking for a long-term contract.

I also agree that Billups has a lot left in the tank. He'd be an absolute score for whoever picks him up. He's one of those players that will influence the game even if he loses athleticism. He's a priceless veteran winner.

If the miami rumours manifest into reality, then wow... look out...

[Patr1ck]

Billups is a Clipper.
http://www.sbnation.com/2011-nba-free-a ... in/2390469

[Kenny]

I wonder how Chauncey feels about that...

When I went to California, I kind of adopted them as my California team, so I'm hoping he can help them out instead of wanting to retire or switch teams.

[Andrew]

Fine move by the Clippers, but it remains to be seen how Billups reacts.

For what it's worth, Sam Smith has condemned his previous statements:

It’s about Billups now

-- And now Chauncey Billups has gone nuts. That was a remarkable interview over the weekend with Yahoo Sports in which Billups, given amnesty by the Knicks so they could sign Tyson Chandler, was quoted as saying “A leader can be as disruptive as productive. It’s about me now. People take my kindness and professionalism for weakness. They think I’ll be OK with this. I won’t be OK with this. I’m tired of being the glue guy.” Among other things. Wow!

Billups probably was caught at the wrong time and was overly emotional, but he basically suggested he might throw games or who knows what if he doesn’t get his way. Nice message to the young players of the league from a veteran and Finals MVP who, by the way, had his career saved from the scrap heap by the Pistons after being traded three times in his first four season. And who by the way had his $14.2 million option for this season picked up as a good will gesture by the Knicks. By any account, they should have given him the $4 million buyout. So they gave him $10 million — say it slowly, Ten Million Dollars — for nothing and he’s enraged. He says he’ll retire. Sure, and give up almost $10 million. Yeah, right. It’s an honor to play professional basketball. Anywhere. So Billups doesn’t want to submit to the waiver process so he can join the Miami Heat. He’ll play. Some team ought to pick him up. It would be an embarrassment not to. So you want people to come to games and support your league and you act like that, threatening to destroy a team because all you are getting is $14 million to play for an NBA team you don’t care to play for? Again, these guys are doing more damage to the NBA than any labor situation ever could. Shame on you, Chauncey. I do remember when you were a classy guy. But the memory is getting fuzzy.

I see where he's coming from, but I think that's going a bit too far. Billups' frustration with the situation is understandable. When it comes down to it, I doubt he'd throw games or anything like that. He'll either get over it and play or refuse to report, forcing them to cut him loose again.

[Kenny]

I don't blame him for feeling the way he does. With Detroit and Denver, he probably thought his days of bouncing around the league were over. Now he finds himself in a similar situation that he was in at the beginning of his career. He's moved from conference to conference in his last few teams (Minnesota to Detroit to Denver to New York and now to Los Angeles), so I couldn't imagine that providing much stability if you have a family.

[Nick]

Damn, i was hoping the Heat would snap him up. Good move by the clips though. They'll probably make the playoffs now.

I guess that eliminates CP3 to LAC rumours...

[Jhiane]

what now for CP3?

[Dc311]

what now for CP3?

Who cares.He should just shut up and play ball.

[Jhiane]

I mean what now for New Orleans

[Andrew]

They'll probably keep him until the controversy blows over a little or a new ownership group buys the Hornets, then there'll likely be a scramble to trade him by the deadline.

[Nick]

As i said in another thread, check out Clippers lineup now...

PG- Billups
SG- E.Gordon
SF- C.Butler
PF- B.Griffin
C- D.Jordan
---
Kaman
Mo-will
etc

[shadowgrin]

what now for CP3?

Who cares.He should just shut up and play ball.

This.
And also for him to stop sending love messages to Dwight Howard.

[NovU]

The Heat really could have used Billups. I was hoping he'd fill that last availble spot in our roster. Now if Baron gets waived, he'll be considered by the Heat, but he's half the player Billups is and is injured atm.

The Clippers did a nice job picking him up. The Clippers' roster looks like a playoffs one.

[jettdaking!]

As i said in another thread, check out Clippers lineup now...

PG- Billups
SG- E.Gordon
SF- C.Butler
PF- B.Griffin
C- D.Jordan
---
Kaman
Mo-will
etc

Kaman for center dude. all day

[Main Bounce]

what now for CP3?

Who cares.He should just shut up and play ball.

This.
And also for him to stop sending love messages to Dwight Howard.

Yeah, Chris Paul envies Deron Williams for Dwight planning to Live-in with him.

[Patr1ck]

As i said in another thread, check out Clippers lineup now...

PG- Billups
SG- E.Gordon
SF- C.Butler
PF- B.Griffin
C- D.Jordan
---
Kaman
Mo-will
etc

Kaman for center dude. all day

Only since he has added a mid range jump shot to his game, but for defensive purposes, I would go with DJ. Who sais you can't give 36 minutes to Griffin/Kaman/DJ platooning DJ at both the PF and C? Although, maybe Kaman will step up now that he knows DJ has the potential to take the starting spot.

[NovU]

Interesting take. If shits really go down like this and Paul ends up being a Clipper, that's one fucked up shit, I tell ya.

Billups claim could pave way for CP3 deal

But rival executives were circulating this conspiracy theory Monday night: Was it a coincidence that the Clippers were able to get Billups for $2 million when they were negotiating a related trade with the league office, which knew the competing bids?

As for Billups, a proud champion who'd warned teams not to claim him so he could pick his own team as an unrestricted free agent, does it make sense for him to spend perhaps the final year of his career on the Clippers' bench, watching Paul dribble between his legs and throw alley-oop passes to Griffin?

"That is not the league's concern," said a rival executive who is upset about the arrangement.

In finding the Billups solution to getting the Paul deal on the verge of completion, the league also sent a letter to Billups' agent, Andy Miller, warning him that there could be consequences if Billups caused problems for a team that claimed him off waivers, Yahoo Sports reported. Billups was waived with the amnesty provision by the Knicks to create room for a sign-and-trade arrangement that landed free-agent center Tyson Chandler in New York. Billups' $14.2 million salary came off the Knicks' books for cap and tax purposes, and the actual financial obligation to New York is offset by the $2 million that will be paid by the Clippers.

In a cruel double-whammy, Billups would become a pawn in delivering a superstar to a major market for the secod time in 10 months if the Paul-to-Clippers deal went down. In February, Billups was a necessary piece that facilitated the trade of Carmelo Anthony from Denver to the Knicks in another saga in which a star player threatened to bolt as a free agent if he wasn't traded to the team of his choice.

"I'm tired of being viewed as the good guy," Billups told Yahoo Saturday. "After a while, you just kind of get taken advantage of in these situations."

[Patr1ck]

The Clippers spin on this is a comparison of the Sam Cassell trade. Cassell was not happy at first, and ended up being a main factor in the Clippers most successful season.

I think landing Billups was chance because it was an auction and they are not going after Chris Paul anymore.

[shadowgrin]

You can say that again.

[Andrew]

If they can get Paul without giving up Gordon, I think they'll still give it a shot but my guess is that for the moment, Billups is intended to be a consolation prize for the Clippers.