Chillin': Ice Cube, Cavs Still Waiting On Billups' Decision
CLEVELAND (AP) — Ice Cube is chilling as he waits for Chauncey Billups to make a move.
The rapper-turned-basketball mogul said Wednesday that he doesn't know if Billups will join Cleveland's front office and lead the Cavaliers' basketball operations. Last week, Cube, who co-founded Big3, a new 3-on-3 league featuring former NBA players, said he was certain Billups was taking a job with the Cavs and wished him well in his new endeavor.
However, Billups, a five-time All-Star guard, remains undecided about leaving his TV analyst job and uprooting his family in Denver to start anew in Cleveland.
"We'll find out I guess pretty soon here," Cube said Wednesday in New York. "We hope he'd play in the Big 3 of course, but we wish him well if he decides to take the job in Cleveland. Our league is player friendly in every way you could think about. So we want him to be happy and successful in whatever he do."
Billups met twice last week with Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert about a future with the club. They've known each other for a decade and Gilbert is looking for someone to oversee the Cavaliers' front office after general manager David Griffin parted ways with the team following three straight trips to the NBA Finals.
The 40-year-old Billups lacks front-office experience, but he's well connected in the league and has an excellent reputation.
Gilbert was at the White House on Wednesday. He posed for photos with President Donald Trump and the Chicago Cubs, who were in Washington playing the Nationals and visited the White House to celebrate winning their first World Series title in 108 years last season.
Gilbert and Quicken Loans CEO Jay Farner were at the White House to speak with Trump about the turnaround they've helped in Detroit.
Cube's 3-on-3 venture tipped off last weekend and he's hoping that if Billups doesn't join the Cavaliers, he will play for one of the league's eight teams.
"He's one of the first guys to sign with us, so we really would love to see him in that Killer 3 Mr. Big Shot jersey with the No. 1 on it," Cube said.
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