The Los Angeles Clippers did manage to acquire a point guard even after the collapse of their trade for Chris Paul by unexpectedly claiming Chauncey Billups off waivers.
The leagues 30 teams were notified shortly after 6 p.m. ET on Monday that the Clippers had lodged the winning waiver bid for Billups, who was released Friday by the New York Knicks through the amnesty clause in the NBAs new labor agreement.
One source with knowledge of the deal told ESPN.com that the Clippers winning bid to land Billups in the waiver auction was just over $2 million, meaning that the Knicks will still have to pay out the remaining balance of nearly $12 million from Billups $14.2 million salary this season.
Had no team claimed him, Billups would have become an unrestricted free agent, sure to attract the interest of contenders such as the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers. ESPN.com reported earlier Monday that Dwight Howard also planned to lobby Billups to come to Orlando if he decided to stay with the Magic.But the Clippers ignored the recent threats by Billups and agent Andy Miller that the 35-year-old would retire if he was claimed by a team he didnt want to join, giving their roster a veteran boost along with the recent signing of Caron Butler to a three-year deal worth $24 million.
“Chauncey is a warrior. Hes a player. This is a similar situation — we had this in the best year we had here — with Sam Cassell. He got traded away from a place he was really comfortable in,” Clippers general manager Neil Olshey said. “All we said was, ‘Come in with an open mind. Give us a chance. Look at our culture, look at who we were.’ The next year Sam becomes the Messiah, got us to the second round of the playoffs, signed a two-year deal for $14 million dollars and finished his career. Its not unlike that.
“Theres going to be some work to do. I think Chauncey wouldve liked to control the process, but unfortunately we have to do whats best for our team. I think once he gets here and sees the resources we have, meets the guys and sees what kind of team we have, hopefully we can do the same thing with him as we were able to do with Sam and Marcus Camby.”
Olshey, in a sitdown with local reporters shortly before the Billups news became public, explained that L.A. intended to use its remaining salary-cap space before matching the Golden State Warriors four-year, $43 million offer sheet to restricted free agent DeAndre Jordan.
The Clippers then went out and did exactly what Olshey hinted at, claiming Billups and then matching the offer to Jordan. NBA rules dictate that the Clippers cant trade Billups this season after claiming him, so he can only play for L.A. if he plays in the NBA season unless he is released.
“There are some sequential transactions that have to happen first,” Olshey said when asked whether the team would match Jordans offer sheet. “Weve still got $3.5 million in cap room and before we give up that flexibility we have to exhaust every opportunity that we have to use the remaining cap room we have.
“But I would expect DeAndre to be here smiling and being goofy and doing skits with Blake at some point at media day Tuesday.”
via Los Angeles Clippers claim Chauncey Billups off waivers – ESPN Los Angeles.