Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, currently on unpaid leave following an Oct. 23 federal arrest tied to an alleged mafia-run gambling ring, has accepted an offer to sell his Lake Oswego residence that was listed for $4.275 million, according to a Redfin posting cited by Rose Garden Report’s Sean Highkin.
The pending sale is viewed internally as another indication Billups may not return to the bench even if he is later cleared. His next court appearance is set for Mar. 4, and the presiding judge has signaled the trial will not begin before September. Assistant coach Tiago Splitter has served as interim head coach since Billups’ arrest.
Team officials are expected to wait until prospective buyer Tom Dundon formally completes his acquisition of the franchise before making a definitive decision on the coaching position. Splitter’s performance for the rest of the season will weigh heavily on whether the interim tag is removed.
Billups is one of 31 defendants charged with running high-stakes poker games allegedly fixed through doctored shuffling machines, marked cards and tables equipped with x-ray devices. Prosecutors claim Billups acted as a “face card,” helping attract wealthy players. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each of two federal counts if convicted.
Dundon Finalizing Ownership Transfer
Multiple sources told CNBC’s Mike Ozanian that Dundon is close to selling his stake in the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes at a $2 billion valuation, clearing the way for his group to purchase the Trail Blazers for more than $4 billion.
Injury Update: Clingan Questionable
Rookie center Donovan Clingan sat out Friday’s win in Detroit with a lower left leg contusion and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game in Memphis, Highkin reported. First-round pick Yang Hansen was recalled from the G League as insurance.
Avdija Sets Israeli Scoring Record
Deni Avdija’s 35-point outing Friday pushed his career total to 4,648 points, surpassing Omri Casspi by six for the most points ever scored by an Israeli player in NBA history, per The Times of Israel.
Source: Hoops Rumors
