Los Angeles Clippers agree on contracts with Chauncey Billups and Jamal Crawford – NBA News
After signing Lamar Odom to their line-up in order to strengthen their front court, the Los Angeles Clippers also added Jamal Crawford and Chauncey Billups on Thursday to give their back court more depth and provide backups to
All Star point guard Chris Paul.
Crawford was an unrestricted free agent after he opted out of his contract worth $5.2 million with the Portland Trail Blazers. He is reported to have signed a three year deal with the Clippers that will see him earning $15.7 million
over the duration of the contract.
Chauncey Billups played for the Clippers last season as a backup point guard to Chris Paul. The 35 year old veteran could play in only 20 games as he suffered a season ending left Achilles tendon surgery. He is anticipated to sign
a one year deal with the Clippers that will pay him up to $4.3 million if he reaches bonuses.
After the regular season finished, Clippers franchise player Chris Paul had said that his number 1 priority for the off season was to convince Billups to re-sign with the team. That showed that the two guards had a good relationship
and Paul wanted Billups on the team as a back-up. Apparently, he has got his wish.
The addition of Crawford and Billups has strengthened the back court of the Clippers and they have cancelled the visit they had planned for free agent Ray Allen. Allen was earlier said to have received interest from the Clippers
as they looked to find a shooting guard with good perimeter shooting abilities.
Allen now has offers from the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics on the table, with Boston offering him almost double the salary that Miami has put forward.
The Clippers added Chris Paul to their roster just before the 2011-2012 season started after a possible three team deal between the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets and Houston Rockets which could have seen Paul in Lakers
uniform was thwarted by NBA commissioner David Stern.
The addition of Paul gave new life to the franchise as they finished 5th in the Western Conference and reached the 2nd round of the playoffs, their best playoff performance in franchise history. The Clippers
now look to extend on their new found success next season and are looking to further strengthen their roster.
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