Clippers claim Chauncey Billups off of waivers

[azncorruptedo17]

we're def going to need mo and foye this year... i do see a 4 man rotation in the backcourt, but we need a big man. i've read great things about trey thompkins from training camp though, and they say cook hasn't missed a shot in a week... maybe we aren't too bad? we'll see in the 2 exhibition games

[mkwest]

Clippers Introduce Chauncey Billups (Video)

Chauncey Billups Ready To Roll

“It was tough,” a soft-spoken Billups said. “If you are waived, a lot of times it is because people think you are a distraction or a bad apple. They think you can’t play. Those things have never been said about me, so just going through that, I was struggling with that.”

“I’m a Clipper and I’m happy to be here,” Billups said. “This really is a good situation with these guys. I don’t feel like this is a rebuilding situation, these guys are ready to take it to the next level. Hopefully I can help them with that.”

“I am a point guard,” Billups said. “In my eyes, we will be starting two point guards [along with Chris Paul]. I’m a lead guard and a playmaker. I think we are going to cause a lot of teams a lot of problems. We will find a way to make it work with two guards who want to win and who know how to win.”

Billups desire to win, and his ability to pull a team together and into the playoffs is one of the main reasons he decided to put off retirement when he was claimed by the Clippers. Billups had originally stated that he was hoping to be bypassed in the waiver process, which then would have made him a free agent and allowed him to sign with any team.
Photo: Anwar Torres

“I didn’t think I would be in this situation,” Billups said. “It’s a tough process, and I had hoped like any other hard-working person that through this process I would be able to control my own destiny. But, that didn’t happen. That is life. I did contemplate retirement, but I am lucky that it was the Clippers that took me.”

Seth Burton, Clippers.com

[Leor_77]

Man, do I love Madelyn Burke - I think her good looks are a very welcome sight to players who have been going through a lot of stress/BS. Loved seeing Chauncey with Chris Paul, as well. If anything/anyone would get Billups to commit to going all in, I think it's pretty clear that Chris would.

[madmaxmedia]

This part was nice to hear from him:

“I didn’t think I would be in this situation,” Billups said. “It’s a tough process, and I had hoped like any other hard-working person that through this process I would be able to control my own destiny. But, that didn’t happen. That is life. I did contemplate retirement, but I am lucky that it was the Clippers that took me.”

[og15]

Those were the exact same words that stood out to me, lol

[Luv those Knicks]

I hope chauncy works out for you guys and I'm glad he came around and committed to the season. He was upset after being traded to NY last year too. He was a big community guy in Denver and I don't think he wanted or expected to be uprooted.

Also hope you spank the lakers this year. That's be great to see.

I don't think Chauncy's the player he once was, but him and Chris Paul together should be interesting. No question he's a very nice pickup for 2 million.

[mkwest]

Billups Can Imagine Clippers Future

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. – The positive mood around the Clippers like never before received another boost Tuesday afternoon when Chauncey Billups, once upset to be claimed after the Knicks used the amnesty clause to waive him, told NBA.com he can imagine re-signing as a free agent.

“I’m not going to worry about that until the summer,” he said after practice at the team’s training facility. “But I want to be in a situation where guys are ready to win. Not just win the regular season, but win in the playoffs. We’ll see how this thing shapes up, but if we continue with the mentality that we have and players keep getting better, this maybe the opportunity that’s best for me.”

Neither side is close to making a commitment with the relationship eight days old, the regular season yet to begin and no hard negotiations until July. If nothing else, though, it replaces the possible distraction of speculation that Billups would be unhappy to be with the Clippers after preferring to become a free agent this month to pick his own destination.

Scott Howard Cooper, NBA.com

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I think it's positive that Chauncey could be open to re-signing.

[TheNewEra]

Interesting we have to develop Bledsoe so the back up PG spot could ne locked up there especially if Paul commits long term. As our starting two the Clippers are for sure going to want to be in a more sizable and more youthful at the spot after this season and Mo Williams is backing there too.idk one day at a time I guess