The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly offered Chauncey Billups a below-market deal to take over as president of basketball operations.
ESPN's Chris Haynes and Marc Spear reported Wednesday that Cleveland initially offered the former NBA star an annual salary of $1.5 million. That's significantly less than the $4 million-a-year figure ESPN said is "the starting point" for someone who works in that position.
Billups, a seven-time All-Star who played eight seasons with the Nuggets, has made no secret about his desire to work in an NBA front office since his playing career came to a close in 2014.
Earlier this summer, Billups interviewed for the Atlanta Hawks' general manager job that eventually went to Travis Schlenk. Billups had an offer on the table from Cleveland, but he decided against it.
In June, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and former general manager David Griffin decided to go their separate ways after they couldn't hammer out a new deal for the GM who helped Cleveland to three-straight finals and one championship. ESPN reported that Gilbert made less than $2 million a year and wanted a raise.
Billups announced his decision to withdraw from the Cavaliers search for a front office executive on July 3.
"As I have conveyed before, ultimately I would like to lead a team’s basketball operation and be a part of a successful franchise," Billups' statement said. "But presently, the timing just isn’t right to delve into that role in Cleveland. In the meantime, I will continue to focus on broadcasting and my other business endeavors."
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