Jail Bird Billups. SHAMS: Chauncey placed immediate leave by the NBA.

[oldfishermen]

I miss the good olde days of card cheaters. They spent years practicing sleight of hand to minipulate cards. It was magic.

Today, anyone with money and connections can buy card/deck readers. Enter the name of the game and number of players. It will calculate the player being dealt the best hand, and transmit that info to a hidden ear-piece the size of a BB. That is scary.

Makes me wonder what other high tech equipment is out there we do not know about? And what it is used for? And by whom?

[Walton1one]

Read on Twitter

lol, pathetic

If true. Everyone goes, except maybe Splitter. Billups should NEVER be coming back

[tester551]

Read on Twitter

lol, pathetic

If true. Everyone goes, except maybe Splitter. Billups should NEVER be coming back

Don't understand why you think this is pathetic.
What else do you expect them to do?

[Walton1one]

Until he returns? He is never coming back, not unless this organization is beyond inept

Bjorkren was offered the job but turned it down? 1) I call bs and it is the exact opposite of what local reporters have said

2) The Splitter thing, how he became coach, how he wanted a clear path to become head coach and yet he signed to a team that just gave their coach an extension and now because of this fiasco, he is now the head coach over the top assistant. Nice PR spin attempt by the Blazers.

[DC_Melo]

On the radio they mentioned the possibility that Billups with mafia ties who knows what could happen to him. As much as I want him gone from the blazers at this point i also hope nobody offs him given tne mafias long history of "eliminating" witnesses

As happy as I am to see him leave our sidelines, I feel for him. He is most probably a pawn and somewhat a victim himself.
A respected hall of famer with career earnings of over $100m (and still earning $5m per year) doesn't approach the Mob and offer to sell a game or a poker match for 100k. It doesn't add up.
Either they had some dirt on him, he owed them a lot of money, or had some other involvement that stopped him from going to the feds when he was told to sell info. I doubt they asked very nicely.

How he got involved in the first place is a better question.

Very insightful take… people don’t just get affiliated with the mafia for fun or by chance. There’s a deeper story here.

Would love for there to be an investigative documentary some day, like a 30 for 30, into the backstory of how he fell in with the mob.

[oldfishermen]

There is a report that the New York Times has found proof Billups had a "relationship* with the head of a crime family in Detriot, when he played there.

Not proof of any guilt. However, this raises questions on when and how Billups may have became involved in criminal activities. And it grew from there to crime famlies in NY.

[Wizenheimer]

There is a report that the New York Times has found proof Billups had a "relationship* with the head of a crime family in Detriot, when he played there.

Not proof of any guilt. However, this raises questions on when and how Billups may have became involved in criminal activities. And it grew from there to crime famlies in NY.

I'm just adding the link to the article you mentioned:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6761083/2025/10/30/chauncey-billups-nba-gambling-investigation/

not looking good for Billups

[oldfishermen]

There is a report that the New York Times has found proof Billups had a "relationship* with the head of a crime family in Detriot, when he played there.

Not proof of any guilt. However, this raises questions on when and how Billups may have became involved in criminal activities. And it grew from there to crime famlies in NY.

I'm just adding the link to the article you mentioned:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6761083/2025/10/30/chauncey-billups-nba-gambling-investigation/

not looking good for Billups

Thanks.

[oldfishermen]

Two Cleveland Gaurdian pitchers charged with fixing pitches during a game. It sounds like the same investigation Billups was caught up in.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-betting-scandal-emmanuel-clase-luis-l-ortiz-pitch-rigging-doj-indictment/

[DusterBuster]

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[dckingsfan]

Chauncey Billups’ trial won't start until at least September 2026...

[Wizenheimer]

Chauncey Billups’ trial won't start until at least September 2026...

with 31 defendants, plea bargaining, a terrabyte of evidence, and possible added RICO charges, I'd bet, if a trial actually happened, it wouldn't start till 2027

again though, the FBI is lead on this investigation and when the FBI is lead, there is a 97% conviction rate. I'd be surprised if Chauncey ever goes to trial. I'd expect lower level defendants to flip on Chauncey in their plea deals, and that he'll take a deal himself

I think Chauncey is up to his nose in deep deep doo doo

[DusterBuster]

Chauncey Billups’ trial won't start until at least September 2026...

with 31 defendants, plea bargaining, a terrabyte of evidence, and possible added RICO charges, I'd bet, if a trial actually happened, it wouldn't start till 2027

again though, the FBI is lead on this investigation and when the FBI is lead, there is a 97% conviction rate. I'd be surprised if Chauncey ever goes to trial. I'd expect lower level defendants to flip on Chauncey in their plea deals, and that he'll take a deal himself

I think Chauncey is up to his nose in deep deep doo doo

I wonder how long this will drag on for the Blazers org. I suspect you’re right on what will happen for the legal side of things. It doesn’t seem tenable to be stuck from now til 2027 with an “interim” coach. If another team has an opening and want Splitter and he doesn’t have the full HC tag still…

I don’t really know what or how a situation like this is supposed to play out, but I don’t love the limbo it leaves the Blazers organization in a bit of a weird spot to say the least.

Marang did say he saw that Splitter has moved into Billups’ old HC office. Take that for whatever it’s worth.

[monopoman]

Chauncey Billups’ trial won't start until at least September 2026...

with 31 defendants, plea bargaining, a terrabyte of evidence, and possible added RICO charges, I'd bet, if a trial actually happened, it wouldn't start till 2027

again though, the FBI is lead on this investigation and when the FBI is lead, there is a 97% conviction rate. I'd be surprised if Chauncey ever goes to trial. I'd expect lower level defendants to flip on Chauncey in their plea deals, and that he'll take a deal himself

I think Chauncey is up to his nose in deep deep doo doo

This has likely been in the works for years, if they are going after the mafia and the conspirators you can bet your ass they covered their bases and found hard evidence that has real bite.

A police department investigation might be inept, but there is no way this investigation has not been going on for at least 3 or 4 years before we saw Billups charged. If Billups avoids all charges I will be stunned, it will have to be one of the biggest fails by the FBI ever.

[JasonStern]

I wonder how long this will drag on for the Blazers org. I suspect you’re right on what will happen for the legal side of things. It doesn’t seem tenable to be stuck from now til 2027 with an “interim” coach. If another team has an opening and want Splitter and he doesn’t have the full HC tag still…

I don’t really know what or how a situation like this is supposed to play out, but I don’t love the limbo it leaves the Blazers organization in a bit of a weird spot to say the least.

Marang did say he saw that Splitter has moved into Billups’ old HC office. Take that for whatever it’s worth.

Billups isn't coming back. He might file a wrongful termination suit against the Blazers. And if he sues for less than the projected legal fees of fighting him in court, the Blazers will probably pay him to go away.

Master Splitter is 8-11 as a coach. Still a long ways away from the end of the season. If the team meets or exceeds expectations and he doesn't lose the locker room, then towards the end of the season I am sure that they will start working with his agent regarding an extension, as well as looking at contingency plans should he leave.

[monopoman]

I wonder how long this will drag on for the Blazers org. I suspect you’re right on what will happen for the legal side of things. It doesn’t seem tenable to be stuck from now til 2027 with an “interim” coach. If another team has an opening and want Splitter and he doesn’t have the full HC tag still…

I don’t really know what or how a situation like this is supposed to play out, but I don’t love the limbo it leaves the Blazers organization in a bit of a weird spot to say the least.

Marang did say he saw that Splitter has moved into Billups’ old HC office. Take that for whatever it’s worth.

Billups isn't coming back. He might file a wrongful termination suit against the Blazers. And if he sues for less than the projected legal fees of fighting him in court, the Blazers will probably pay him to go away.

Master Splitter is 8-11 as a coach. Still a long ways away from the end of the season. If the team meets or exceeds expectations and he doesn't lose the locker room, then towards the end of the season I am sure that they will start working with his agent regarding an extension, as well as looking at contingency plans should he leave.

It's also 8-11 with major injuries to key players, and facing a pretty damn rough schedule **** in one more game we will have played OKC three times in the course of 20 games. Only one team has had a rougher schedule than us, and it's the Kings. Sure, at the end of the season this typically evens out but the first 20 games it's heavily based on who you are playing.

[JasonStern]

I wonder how long this will drag on for the Blazers org. I suspect you’re right on what will happen for the legal side of things. It doesn’t seem tenable to be stuck from now til 2027 with an “interim” coach. If another team has an opening and want Splitter and he doesn’t have the full HC tag still…

I don’t really know what or how a situation like this is supposed to play out, but I don’t love the limbo it leaves the Blazers organization in a bit of a weird spot to say the least.

Marang did say he saw that Splitter has moved into Billups’ old HC office. Take that for whatever it’s worth.

Billups isn't coming back. He might file a wrongful termination suit against the Blazers. And if he sues for less than the projected legal fees of fighting him in court, the Blazers will probably pay him to go away.

Master Splitter is 8-11 as a coach. Still a long ways away from the end of the season. If the team meets or exceeds expectations and he doesn't lose the locker room, then towards the end of the season I am sure that they will start working with his agent regarding an extension, as well as looking at contingency plans should he leave.

It's also 8-11 with major injuries to key players, and facing a pretty damn rough schedule **** in one more game we will have played OKC three times in the course of 20 games. Only one team has had a rougher schedule than us, and it's the Kings. Sure, at the end of the season this typically evens out but the first 20 games it's heavily based on who you are playing.

Blazers were projected at 35.5 wins. And that's without the Billups drama. Seems like a decent baseline to judge against.

I'm not talking trash against Master Splitter. But I don't see why you'd offer him the head coaching job and sign him to a contract less than 1/4th of the way through his first season acting as an interim coach. This is especially true when you don't know who else might be available, whether he can keep close relations to the team over the course of a full season, whether they continue to meet or exceed expectations, etc.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Billups just sold his house here. Guess the writing is on the wall.

[DusterBuster]

Billups just sold his house here. Guess the writing is on the wall.

Saw that bit of news too.

Even if cleared of wrongdoing - that's just too big of a black eye to really come back from imo.

Let's say, best case scenario for Billups, the FBI is massively overplaying their cards here (pun kinda intended) and it gets thrown out. The fact still remains that he was still wrapped up in some less-than-wholesome off-time activities. Everyone should be free to live their own life, but if you're going to participate in things that, if they ever get public, would be embarrassing for yourself and your organization, you have to live with the consequences if that happens.

For the Blazers, I think it makes sense just to make change at HC with a little fanfare as possible. Just let Shams release the info that the interim tag has been dropped for Splitter and that Billups' contract was voided or maybe they just want to "officially" fire him so he can still get his money at some point depending on the outcome of the case?

I'm curious how fair the Blazers want to be to Billups out of respect for him... but he also caused arguably one of the biggest black eyes this franchise has gotten in it's history. I still have Woods' dog fighting ring and Ruben Patterson as the worst because... yeah..., but Billups probably takes the #3 spot without much contest.

[Brandon-Clyde]

Billups just sold his house here. Guess the writing is on the wall.

Well he will possibly be living in the big house soon. Also known as the grey bar hotel.