RealGM Basketball Wiretap

27 October 2025

• Ty Lue Says Chauncey Billups 'Confident About The Situation'

  Ty Lue said he spoke to Chauncey Billups since he was arrested following a federal investigation related to illegal sports betting and fraudulent poker games, and that Billups was hopeful over his situation.

  "I believe in Chauncey's character," said Lue before the Clippers played the Blazers on Sunday. "I know who he is as a person. I've been with him since I was 17 years old. So, it's just hard to see something like this happen. He has my love and support always."

  The NBA placed Billupson immediate leave following the arrest.

  Lue added that Billups remained confident despite his situation.

  "He's confident in what's going on. The toughest part just for him, just like his family going through with his daughters. But other than that, he's really confident about the situation. So just hearing his voice, I can just see that he's OK. So that was good to hear," added Lue.

  The Blazers named Tiago Splitter as interim coach in the meantime.

• Tiago Splitter Calls Taking Over Chauncey Billups 'Tough Moment, We Have To Move Forward'

  The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Golden State Warriors 139-119 in their first game with Tiago Splitter as interim head coach following the indictment of Chauncey Billups.

  "Honestly, it is a tough moment," said Splitter. "I mean, we all had great experience with Chauncey, and we are thinking of him and his family. But we have a job to do, and we have to move forward."

  Billups recruited Splitter to join his coaching staff this past offseason to help revamp the Blazers' offense. Splitter was head coach of Paris Basketball last season.

  "I have to be ready," Splitter said. "I was ready, I am ready."

  Splitter only got a few hours of sleep after Portland's season opener before he was woken up shortly after 6 AM with the news of Billups' arrest. Splitter then met with general manager Joe Cronin a few hours later and was asked to take over as interim head coach. Nate Bjorkgren had previous head coaching experience, but told Cronin that Splitter was the best choice for the role.

• Blazers Elevate Tiago Splitter To Interim Head Coach

  The Portland Trail Blazers will elevate Tiago Splitter to interim head coach during the indefinite leave of Chauncey Billups. Billups was arrested early Thursday morning as part of a federal investigation into illegal gambling.

  Splitter spent last season as head coach of Paris Basketball and was hired by the Blazers as assistant coach this past offseason. Splitter previously worked as a player development coach for several seasons with the Brooklyn Nets and then an assistant coach for one season with the Houston Rockets under Ime Udoka.

  Splitter led Paris Basketball to winning the French championship and the French Cup last season.

  The Blazers also strongly considered Nate Bjorkgren for the role.

• Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier Placed On Leave By NBA Following Arrests

  Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier have been placed on immediate leave following their arrests as part of federal investigation related to illegal sports betting and fraudulent poker games backed by the Mafia.

  "We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today," said the NBA in a statement. "Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority."

  Billups has been head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers since 2021 and was on the sidelines for their regular season opener on Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Billups signed a multiyear contract extension in April.

  The Blazers have yet to name an interim head coach. Last offseason, Portland overhauled their coaching staff by hiring Tiago Splitter, Patrick St. Andrews and Quinton Crawford. The Blazers let go of Roy Rogers and Chris Fleming.

  Rozier is on a $26.6 million expiring contract and hasn't been in the long-term plans of the Miami Heat regardless of his alleged involvement in a gambling scandal. Rozier averaged 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 25.9 minutes over 64 games last season.

• Chauncey Billups Indicted On Wire Fraud, Money Laundering Charges

  Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has been charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in connection with a Mafia-backed poker rigging operation, federal authorities announced. Billups was arrested in Oregon and is also linked to a separate sports betting scheme involving insider information about Blazers games.

  Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Hu. Prosecutors requested substantial bail conditions, noting Billups has significant financial resources.

  Billups is scheduled to appear at federal court in Brooklyn on November 24. He surrendered his passport and must secure a substantial bond, with travel restricted to Oregon and Colorado and all gambling-related activity prohibited.

  A co-conspirator described in the indictment with details matching Billups allegedly told a bettor that multiple Blazers starters would miss a March 24, 2023 game against the Chicago Bulls. Four regular Portland starters did not play as the Trail Blazers lost by 28 points.

  While Billups was not named in the sports betting indictment, the description of "Co-Conspirator 8" aligns with his playing and coaching career, authorities said.

  In the poker case, Billups and Damon Jones are accused of using their celebrity status to lure victims into rigged games backed by Mafia families, prosecutors said. The operation allegedly employed shuffling machines that read cards, hidden cameras in chip trays, special contact lenses and X-ray tables.

  Billups served as a "face card" in the scheme and participated in a rigged Las Vegas game in April 2019 that defrauded victims of at least $50,000. He was wired $50,000 following another rigged game in October 2020, according to court documents.

  "To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his hall-of-fame legacy, his reputation, and his freedom," attorney Chris Heywood said. "Furthermore, Chauncey Billups has never and would never gamble on basketball games, provide insider information, or sacrifice the trust of his team and the League."

  Blazers assistant Tiago Splitter will serve as interim head coach. The franchise stated it is fully cooperating with the investigation.

• Blazers' Sale To Tom Condon To Take Place Over Multiple Years

  The sale of the Portland Trail Blazers will take place in several stages over the next few years. The Blazers were sold at a valuation of $4.25 billion to Tom Condon, who also owns the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes.

  Paul Allen passed away in 2018 and his sister, Jody, has been running the franchise since. Allen purchased the Blazers in 1988 for $70 million.

  The deal is expected to close in March 2026 with Dundon becoming the team's majority owner when it does. Dundon will replace Jody Allen as governor at that time as well. Dundon will buy the remaining stake in the Blazers from the Allen estate at a later date.

  The sale will be similar to the one structured by Bill Chisholm when he purchased the Boston Celtics for $6.1 billion. A second transaction will occur in 2028 to complete the sale.

• Trail Blazers Exercise 26-27 Options For Donovan Clingan, Scoot Henderson, Kris Murray

  The Portland Trail Blazers have exercised the 2026-27 rookie scale team options for center Donovan Clingan, guard Scoot Henderson and forward Kris Murray. This is the third-year option for Clingan and the fourth-year options for Henderson and Murray.

  Clingan will be on the Trail Blazers cap sheet at $7.5 million for next season. Henderson will hit the Portland books at $13.6 million, while Murray will count at $5.3 million.

  As a rookie, Clingan appeared in 67 games, with 37 started. The 7-foot-2 center averaged 6.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 19.8 minutes per game.

  Henderson is missing the start of this season due to a hamstring strain. The 6-foot-3 point guard averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 assists in his second season.

  Murray played in 69 games in his second season. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 4.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game.

• Shaedon Sharpe, Trail Blazers Agree To Four-Year, $90M Extension

  The Portland Trail Blazers and guard Shaedon Sharpe have agreed to a four-year, $90 million rookie scale extension. This extension locks Sharpe in with Portland through the 2029-30 season.

  Sharpe started in 52 of the 72 games he played last season. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Sharpe shot 45% from the field.

  Portland faced a deadline of Monday to get Sharpe signed to an extension. The Trail Blazers also agreed to a four-year extension with forward Toumani Camara. Those deals lock in two young wings for the next five seasons for Portland.

• Toumani Camara, Trail Blazers Agree To Four-Year, $82M Extension

  The Portland Trail Blazers and forward Toumani Camara have agreed to a four-year, $82 million extension. The Trail Blazers are declining their team option for Camara for the 2026-27 season in order to give him the four-year extension. Portland now locks up the All-Defensive second team player through the 2029-30 season.

  Camara stated in all 78 games he played for the Blazers in his second season. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Camara shot 45.8% from the field, including 37.5% on 4.6 three-point attempts per game.

• Javonte Cooke, Trail Blazers Agree To Two-Way Contract

  The Portland Trail Blazers and wing Javonte Cooke have agreed to a two-way contract. Portland had Cooke in camp on an Exhibit 10 deal before waiving him over the weekend. Now, Cooke fills the Blazers final two-way spot.

  Cooke spent last season with the Oklahoma City Blue of the G League. The 6-foot-6 wing averaged 17.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game last season.

  The Trail Blazers roster now stands at 18 players. Portland has 15 players signed to standard contracts and three players signed to two-way deals.