After parting ways with David Griffin, the Cleveland Cavaliers found themselves heading into free agency without a general manager. Chauncey Billups, former Detroit Pistons star and current ESPN analyst, was a leading candidate for the job. The two sides were in advanced negotiations. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Billups has withdrawn from consideration:
Chauncey Billups has withdrawn from consideration for Cleveland's President of Basketball Operations job, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2017
Per Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY, Billups stands to make more money with ESPN than he would have with the Cavs:
Making Chauncey Billups' decision not to take Cavs front office job a tad easier, he received more money from ESPN, I'm told. https://t.co/aBWYn5tidn
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) July 3, 2017
Griffin’s firing came as a shock to most, as franchise centerpiece LeBron James had openly advocated –
multiple times – for the Cavs to extend Griffin’s contract. James was reportedly disappointed by the decision and was not consulted by the Cavs.
As a player, Billups was drafted third overall by the Boston Celtics in 1997 after a successful collegiate career at Colorado. Billups bounced around from Boston, Denver, Toronto and Minnesota before finding a home in Detroit.
Billups spent over six seasons with the Pistons before spending the final five years of his career with the Nuggets, Knicks, Clippers and – as one final 19-game stint – the Pistons again.
Billups was a five-time All-Star (2006-2010) and was named Finals MVP when the Pistons won the championship in 2004.
