Chris Paul trade rejected, Chauncey Billups to Clippers
Although it appeared yesterday that the Clippers and Hornets were close to making a deal involving trading Chris Paul, the Clippers rejected the deal and claimed Chauncey Billups instead.
The AP reports that Clippers general manager said “the cost was just too high.” In order to obtain Chris Paul, the Clippers were in talks to give the Hornets center Chris Kaman (12.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg), point guard Eric Bledsoe (6.7 ppg, 3.6 apg, 1.1 spg), small forward Al-Farouq Aminu (5.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and the Clippers’ unprotected 2012 draft pick via the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“There wasn’t one piece or another piece that killed this deal,” Olshey said. “The aggregate compensation that we were going to have to convey to them was just too much and it was going to hamstring our franchise in the long term.”
Instead, the Clippers used their remaining $3.5 million in salary cap room to claim Billups. The Clippers had a need for Billups since Bledsoe will be sidelined as he continues to recover from right knee surgery on Oct. 7.
“He has the ability to add a lot to our organization, on and off the court,” coach Vinny Del Negro said about Billups. “He’s not ready to retire. He has too much left in the tank.”
Read more about the rejected Chris Paul/Clippers deal here.
