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Found Objects: Chauncey Billups, Teammate of the Year and Blake Griffin

Jun 10, 2013
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by Jovan Buha




•  Chauncey Billups was named the recipient of the inaugural Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award yesterday, according to the NBA.

Here is part of the press release:

As part of its support for the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award, the NBA will make a $25K donation to the charity of Billups’ choice. A panel of NBA Legends nominated six players from each conference for the award, which recognizes the NBA player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and his commitment and dedication to his team.

A five-time NBA All-Star selection, Billups led the Detroit Pistons to the 2004 title, garnering Finals Most Valuable Player honors. The 16-year NBA veteran owns career averages of 15.4 points and 5.5 assists. He completed his second season with the Clippers in 2012-13, returning from a torn left Achilles tendon and overcoming various injuries to appear in 28 games, including all six postseason games.

“Chauncey Billups defines what this award was designed to recognize, a player committed to his club, his teammates and his community,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern, who presented Billups with the award Sunday prior to Game 2 of the NBA Finals in Miami. “He has mentored and guided countless young players to adopt his selfless attitude, dedication, passion for our game and to respect the history and example of players like Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes.”

***

In this year’s award voting, Billups totaled 1,543 total points, including 64 first-place votes. Miami Heat forward Shane Battier finished second with 1,324 points (79 first-place votes), and New York Knicks guard Jason Kidd placed third with 1,048 points (42 first-place votes).

•  Today, however, Billups went on the ESPN show First Take and had some choice words to say about teammate Blake Griffin, per ESPN.com (video below):

“I don’t agree that Blake Griffin is soft. But what I will say about Blake is that he’s maybe too nice of a guy,” Billups said. “Because there’s been times in games where people take shots at Blake. And I tell him if that’s me, you’re going to have to take this two- or three-game suspension, and I’m going to punish somebody.

“That’s just how I’m built. Blake is not really built like that. He’s … too soft of a guy inside for him to be like, ‘All right, I’m just going to hurt somebody.’ He just won’t do it. I wish he would, and I think that people would look at him a lot different if he did that. But he’s just not that kind of person.”

Billups said “there’s nobody that works harder” than Griffin, but the three-time All-Star would benefit if the Clippers were able to add “a veteran down low to help him … to push him along a little faster.”

While I don’t think Billups meant to publicly criticize Griffin, it’s ironic that less than 24 hours after winning Teammate of the Year, he goes on national television and says Griffin is “too nice of a guy” and “too soft of a guy inside”. He didn’t explicitly blast Griffin, and denied the “soft” label, but it’s not as if he was exactly singing his praises outside of the work ethic compliment.

It’ll be interesting to see what the ramifications will be, especially considering Billups’ pending free agency and the hesitance with which he spoke about returning to the Clippers. If anything, it seems the reported locker room divide is a little more clear (just look at the last line).

•  Billups is reportedly interested in joining the Heat, according to Fox Sports Florida.

•  Over at ESPN Los Angeles, I wrote about the Clippers’ coaching search and who I feel the three best candidates are.

•  Jimmy Kimmel has a segment on his show called “Mean Tweets.” Below is his “Mean Tweets — NBA Edition”, featuring some hilarious segments from Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Matt and DeAndre Jordan.

•  The Rockets, along with the Mavericks, have plans of pursuing Chris Paul this offseason.

•  Speaking of Paul, he played golf over the weekend with President Bill Clinton.

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Jovan Buha

Senior Contributor at ClipperBlog
Jovan Buha is a staff writer and Digital Content Programmer at FOX Sports. He also contributes to ESPN Los Angeles’ Clippers and Lakers coverage. Jovan graduated from USC with a degree in Print & Digital Journalism and a minor in Sports Media Studies in 2014.
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  • Bongstradamus

    Players should boycott appearing on First Take. Seriously, Bayless and Smith are total tools, I dont know why any player or their agent even allows an interview or appearance.

    Also, Chauncey keeps saying the proverbial “we” when talking about LAC. He says hes a free agent, but I kinda think he feels invested in this team.

  • Winston Garland

    Chauncey needs to go. He, Del Negro, and CP are the only ones who think he is a capable starting 2. He’s horrible. Maybe a spot bench player at best. If Chauncey is our starting 2 next year, we ain’t going anywhere…

    • intentonanonsense

      I think that people are judging Billups appearance this year too harshly. Did he play well? Not at all, but given the circunstances I think people had their expectations too high and then the hole felt deeper when he didn’t play well.

      Was Billups fault that he was on the floor? NO!!! The coach that decides who should be playing and if the player is playing at the level they expect. Billups shouldn’t be at fault because he was playing bad, as a starter and taking Bledsoe’s minutes. The major question is if he can stay healthy.

      He can’t be a starter but he CAN help the team in the right situation, when you need a change of pace or when you need more spacing. Yeah, he shot badly, but hardly got in game rhythm and with NO SYSTEM sometimes is harder to just blend in, even more in the Playoffs. I don’t think that his performance should be taken like you guys are doing. Do I want him back? Maybe, for the right price. Is he a must have FA? No, but nonetheless, if healthy, he is not horrible at all and he can be a contributor. This is the same guy so many of you claimed as last season saviour.

      People had too high of expectations on him and you are blaming him more because he was on the floor when he wasn’t playing well than just because he was playing bad. He is not an All-Star, if he is not playing well, take him out and put Green for floor spacing, he can’t keep up with defense? Put someone, it’s that simple, you can’t simply blame him because VDN let him more time on the floor than he was supposed to be.

      Aside from CP3 – which may not remain a Clipper – the Clippers have no floor general to control the pace, so a guy like Billups can be just like Kidd and Prigioni were to the Knicks, they can orchestrate and run the offense and let the PG rest, Prigioni was more like a pass first but Kidd was a good floor spacer but both were better defensively than Billups, both Kidd and Prigioni were so good and disrupting offense with their stealing ability.

      • FD

        I don’t think he’d want to play for a team and not be the starter or play most of the minutes in the 4th quarter. Unless maybe it was the Heat. But he signed here thinking he would be the starter, if you bench him, he’s gonna be upset and it’s not really fair if you promised him the starting job when he signed.

        • intentonanonsense

          Yeah, but it’s a decision you got to make, more over, it’s not about being fair and it’s not unfair at all. He wasn’t healthy by the end of this season – or even last season – and he admitted himself that he never got it going, he wasn’t at the level he wanted so there is nothing unfair to bench him in that situation and he would tottally understand that.

          But now, it’s different situation, because if they were to bring him back, it would be under a new situation and they would not promisse him the starting position like they did when they acquired him after he was waived due to the amnesty clause. This time they wouldn’t do such a offer and I think that it’s a different situation and he understands that as well. He was injured for most of his time with the Clippers and he is now 2 years older. And then, if he can’t accept how things are, then he shouldn’t accept it and go elsewhere or retire.

          All I’m saying that the Billups we saw, was not what he can actually do and people shouldn’t blame him like that when he didn’t make such a promisse, people shouldn’t blame him because they had high expectation, because they somehow thought he could make everything work or because VDN let him on the floor when he shouldn’t be.

          Let’s not put more on him than just he not playing with any rhythm, if you expect that a guy like him would make everything change after the injuries he was having, you are delusional.

          • FD

            Yeah, I agree now it’s a different situation.

            And I don’t think he’ll ever be the player he used to be.

            I wouldn’t re-sign him though.

            • intentonanonsense

              I don’t really expect him to be the Mr. Big Shot every night but I think that he can deliver that sometimes but more importantly, who would could the Clippers get as a ball handler and playmaker instead of Billups because when your coach is in his first year, unless he really has a system, it’s harder when you don’t have someone like that.

    • Bongstradamus

      He’s a free agent. And he’s probably one of the few players outside of Jason Kidd that could probably be a head coach immediately after retiring.

      But like the man said, he wants to be a GM.

  • FD

    The Clippers can’t consult with CP3 about the coach job until July right? I assume they won’t hire anyone until then.

    • Bongstradamus

      Actually, I think they can talk to him until 11:59pm on June 30th. And at Midnite they need to hand him a 5 year max extension and walk away.

      I could be wrong though.

  • Jake

    What happened to George Karl? A few days ago, reports said Sterling favored him because of his experience while the son-in-law and his followers were favored Shaw. Then the Clippers set up interviews with Shaw, Scott, Hollins and McMillan, and then Shaw and Scott were interviewed and management said the interviews with both were good, then Hollins’ interview was pushed back a day because he’s at some NBA meeting in San Antonio and McMillans interview was cancelled because the Clippers interest in him is only “lukewarm”. Still no mention of interviewing Karl.

    My guess is Karl doesn’t want to coach the Clippers because he just got fired for not playing Juvale McGee, and he won’t want to be in another similar situation with the-son-in-law threatening to fire him for not playing the Clippers’ “pet project” DeAndre Jordan. I’m still guessing he wants to coach Memphis where he’ll be set at center with Marc Gasol. I’m guessing that’s why he’s not getting interviewed by the Clippers.

    Too bad. There are real problems with Karl, but he’s far and away the most successful of the coaches who are left.

    • Alfredo Rodriguez

      All things have changed ever since Doc Rivers hinted that he may be leaving the Celtics. But the Celtics front office has him on a leash. When he signed an extension, they included a stipulation where if he is fired or let go, no other team can pick him up for two years. The Celtics are very cautious about letting go of their players, especially now that the Lakers are two titles away from becoming the league leader in titles.

      The Celtics may request for compensation, which would mean trades, cash, and draft picks. There was a rumored trade about the Clippers getting Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Doc Rivers in exchange for the farm (Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Eric Bledsoe and parts). Now it’s being upgraded to include Chris Paul as part of that compensation package (meaning Rajon Rondo would also be out). It would basically mean trading the entire Clippers roster to the Celtics just to get permission to speak to Doc Rivers. Too steep a price. Sterling wouldn’t do it because he knows Griffin gets butts in the seats, and CP3 gets them wins. But they are missing a go-to guy like KG or Pierce, and without a viable backup option, they’ll be out of the first round again.

      • Bongstradamus

        This sounds like a complete fantasy. Trading coaches? Moving the entire core of the team for 2 guys 35+ years old?

        I’m calling BS on this.

      • Bongstradamus

        Now that youve got me thinking bout this, why would Doc Rivers, who is trying to avoid going through a rebuild with Boston want to come to the Clippers if they trade away everything and have to rebuild?

        Why would DTS pay $5M+ for a coach when he has to ship all the talent away?

        It doesnt make sense on either side.

  • tim

    The more I think about it realistically, it points toward either Scott or Shaw, both upgrades over Vinny, but not quite the homerun big names once believed to be sought after. If the Clips don’t care if CP signs or not, then go with Shaw who clearly has the best upside. If you want to kiss CP’s butt, sign Scott and lets move on already.Other names are like Hollins, Rivers, Sloan, and Van Gundys aren’t realistic. Karl is accomplished but he is really nothing more than a better version of Vinny, and we need to develop this talent. Bring me Shaw pls!

    • Clipsy Hustle

      Spot on assessment Tim.I said the same thing a few days ago.

  • Jake

    Lots of Rivers talk today in the media, but I don’t see how it’s at all realistic. I read he’s still under contract for 3 years at $7 million a year, plus the Celtics supposedly would want two first round draft picks and some players.

    George Karl is the best of the available coaches still out there, but he seems to have disappeared from the Clippers plans, since there’s been no recent mention of him from the Clippers. Reports say Karl is set to interview with Memphis on Monday, and the Memphis paper writes “Karl is very interested in coaching the Grizz.” That’s not a surprise, since he has ties to the front office and he’ll have an excellent center to coach. That’s probably why he’s not on the Clippers’ list any more. He probably told the Clippers he’s not interested because he doesn’t want to deal with a front office that’s demanding he play DeAndre Jordan.

    Lionel Hollins is going to interview with Denver over the weekend, and I’m guessing that’s where he’ll end up coaching.

  • Bongstradamus

    On Boston rumors: We need to hold. Do not trade unless its to our benefit. Let Ainge make a move because he has to make a move. Be it through amnesty or needing to move a contract to free cap or both. Boston HAS to rebuild. They are at that point. There is no use giving away free stuff unless we’re dumping contracts on them. They have to make decisions and we should wait for them to make those decisions. We should be more interested in swapping our picks for their picks, because they are going to Lotteryland in a season or two and we’re (based on our talent) not.

    On St/eff Van Gundy (because I’ll take either or both): Hire an armored truck. Fill it with money. Drive it to his house. Hire a former Mossad agent to “negotiate”. Give him a gigantic golden key with the team logo on it. Offer to pay in order to have the Maloofs to mow his lawn. Secure that contract by any means necessary. Create want.

    On the draft: Myck Kabongo at #25. Trade for rights to Livio Jean Charles

    • Clips4

      In other rumors, if Doc resigns, VDN has been rumored to be his replacement. #FireVDN will be trending for all Celtic Fans including Bill Simmons if VDN succeeds Doc as the Celtics coach.

      • Bongstradamus

        #FireVDN followed #PlaySullinger will be trending I think.

  • FD

    So CP3 and Dwight Howard are talking about playing together. Hopefully they can sign and trade DeAndre and Butler for Howard. And hopefully they don’t have to include Bledsoe.

    • Bongstradamus

      We dont need to S&T, if we can move Butler and DJ’s contract and buy out Odom, theres enough cap.

      • Clips4

        We don’t need to buy out Odom. Odom’s a UFA

        • Bongstradamus

          I thought he was signed for 2 years. Oh, and bonus, Grant Hill’s retirement freed up that cap space.

          • Clips4

            Odom’s contract last year was an expiring deal. That’s why LAC brought him in as a low-risk deal. Had he been the way he was last year and the year before in Dallas, the FO wouldn’t have even bothered sniffing his way if his contract had two years left on it.

      • Le0n

        You know, if Howard is really willing to sign with the Clippers, then what they should do is wait for the Celtics to buy Paul Pierce out of his contract and offer DJ (Bledsoe would probably be included in the deal) to them in exchange for Doc. If KG decides not to comeback, try to convince them to also take Butler’s expiring contract. The Clippers would have the necessary cap space to sign Dwight and the guy they truly want to coach the team next season.

        As you said in one of your posts, the Celtics have to make some kind of move to initiate the rebuilding process. The Clippers can, and should, take advantage of that.

  • Jake

    Now that it’s well-known Howard would sign with the Clippers, things suddenly got easy. Signing Howard as a free agent has to be the main goal, and deciding on a coach becomes secondary, because any coach is going to win with him.

    There’s been a lot of talk today about signing and trading with the Lakers, but as I understand things, that is not a possibility because according to the new agreement regarding trading free agents, the Lakers would have to be below the cap space and they’re not even close. Neither are the Clippers.

    But there are teams with lots of cap space, and the Clippers can do deals with those teams for Jordan and Butler in which the Clippers don’t take back any salary. Then they will have the cap space themselves to sign Dwight Howard out right as a free agent.

    That way they also keep Griffin and Bledsoe, who some people, like Mychael Thompson, have been suggesting today should be traded to the Lakers for Howard.

    • Jake

      Here again is the alphabetical list of teams according to Shamsports that have the cap space (amount in parenthesis) to do this. I’ve added Charlotte to the list, which previously was left off of it.

      Atlanta (at most $35 million, but probably less), Charlotte ($22 million), Cleveland ($19 million), Dallas ($13 million), Detroit ($28 million), Houston ($16 million), Milwaukee ($20 million), New Orleans ($12 million), Phoenix ($8.5 million), Portland ($11 million), Utah ($28 million).

    • Clips4

      LAC signing D12 outright after clearing cap space is not likely. D12 would have to leave a ton of money on the table to do that unless a sign and trade would happen.

      • Bongstradamus

        CP3 could sign for slightly less, and they could split the cap available. Kinda like what Wade did.

        • Clips4

          I’d rather LAC try and pursue Iguodala over getting D12. We do not need coach killing prima donna on the team. Iggy fills weakness that LAC has in terms of getting a 2-way player in a long and athletic swingman who attacks the basket and can create his own shot and get to the FT line.

          • Tyler James Edward Hills

            Thank you!!

    • Axxer

      My understanding of the new cba (from reading cba flaw.com) is that a team over the apron cannot acquire a free agent in a s&t, but they can send their own away.

  • intentonanonsense

    What happened to Clipperblog? So many rumors out there with no coverage?

  • intentonanonsense

    What happened to Clipperblog? So many rumors out there with no coverage?

    • Alfredo Rodriguez

      Fred Katz will have a Clipperbag answering Twitter and email questions coming very soon. There could be a Live segment in the coming days, not to mention a podcast with Kevin Arnovitz and Jordan Heimer regarding all the rumors. Please be patient, Intenton.

      • intentonanonsense

        No problem, I’m not really complaining, it’s just that usually you guys are right there with the rumors, moreover it’s better when each different topic* has a different page to discuss, it feels less random.

  • RG12

    Aged relics sitting on the bench with aches and pains won’t help. Remember last year: Grant Hill: Chauncey; Steve Nash. KG, PP, and CB sitting on our bench would be a disaster. In their prime they were wonderful players. But thse days are done.

  • Clips4

    I can’t believe LAC is willing to mortgage the future right now in order to win a ring the next year. If we pursued Iguodala, we would not only be able to compete for a title with a competent coach but we would be able to be competitive the next 5 years. This is sickening to see.

  • intentonanonsense

    Seriously, D12 is not worth it. The Clippers so need a big defensive guy and it’s good if he has some offense too, but D12 demands 15+ shots per game to stay happy and motivated, this won’t balance well with Griffin and he is too expensive, it will screw any possible flexibility the Clippers might have. And D12 and his indecision comes with so much drama and immaturity, it’s not worthy, I rather give DJ another chance and if it doesn’t pay dividends, trade him before the All-Star Weekend. But the best scenario would be a guy that can block shots, rebound and space the floor. Actually, I think that with Griffin really developing his shot, it will make easier for the front office, with that, guys like DJ fits the profile, post a little bit, block shots and rebound would be enough.

    But I would really, really like if the Clippers can bring Andre Iguodala, he is athletic, he can defend both SG/SF, this would be a great upgrade.

  • HokkaidoKuma

    SO much going on and no new updates on an ESPN affiliated Clipper Blog. ‘Shakes Head’

  • FD

    Please don’t do the Celtics deal if it includes Bledsoe. I’d go after D12 before Pierce and Garnett. I could care less about Doc Rivers. The Clippers have the leverage here, they shouldn’t rush anything.

  • FD

    Saw that the Clippers might also trade Griffin and Bledsoe for Howard. That rumor can end right now. Sterling will never trade Griffin cus his dunks sell tickets.

  • tim

    I was of the belief that Stephen A. was looney when he initially started talking all this Rivers, KG and the Truth talk. Now? Love Clippers in win now mode. Forever going forward, lets try to win the title now and worry about later,later. With Blake, CP, KG and Pierce on the same roster, Blake is easily the 3rd best player, why not move your 3rd best player for D12? Please stop saying Sterling won’t do it, he’ll do it! Gentlemen, the dominoes are about to start falling. We all love Blake, but this is business. I remember hoping Terry Cummings was going to do something.

  • Le0n

    Lots of rumors and information today.

    The Clippers would have to be pretty naive if they thought the Celtics wouldn’t ask for Bledsoe in a potential trade for Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett. If the two sides strike a deal, I sincerely hope he’s not involved in it. Sending two athletic young studs, plus a couple of picks, plus cash to a team in exchange for a coach and a 37 year old player would be… well, ridiculous to say the least.

    Also, if Garnett comes to the Clippers, do NOT trade Blake. Howard is a much better defender, no one is going to question that, but Blake is already better offensively. He’s younger, has way more space for improvement, and none of the baggage. In fact, KG, in my opinion, would be a better fit for the team than Howard, simply because his skill set would mesh well with Blake’s, who would have more space to operate near the basket, not to mention he would learn under one of the best defenders to ever play the game. As a couple of users have already mentioned, it would be preferable, in this situation, to go after Iguodala now that he has opt out of his contract with the Nuggets. CP3, Iguodala, Matt Barnes (Paul Pierce if the Celtics buy him out of his contract ? Danny Granger?), Blake and KG would form a pretty intriguing starting five.

    As a final note, I have to say that I find it ironic that Paul was pouting like a baby because he didn’t want to see his name associated with VND’s dismissal, and yet he apparently wants to team up with a guy that has burnt a coach in Orlando and is ready to burn another if he stays with the Lakers.


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