Reports are swirling around the NBA that initial candidate to replace David Griffin as the head of basketball operations in Cleveland, Chauncey Billups, actually turned the job down because he was insulted by a low-ball offer issued by the organization.
Billups showed himself to be a consummate gentleman when he turned down the deal, at the time telling basketball insider Adrian Wojnarowski that he ultimately "would like to lead a team's basketball operation and be a part of a successful franchise. But presently, the timing just isn't right to delve into that role in Cleveland." However, according to ESPN's Chris Haynes and Marc J. Spears, team owner Dan Gilbert first tried to entice Billups with $1.5 million, before upping the offer to $2 million. Billups then walked away from negotiations altogether. Haynes and Spears cite the typical starting salary for a President of Basketball Operations to be $4 million per year.
Billups told Wojnarowski that he is content moving forward with his broadcasting career and focusing on other business endeavors for the time being. Billups recently had his contract extended by ESPN and is reportedly already making $2 million per year with the network.
Source: bleacherreport.com
