"Chauncey Billups is expected to start at shooting guard for the Los Angeles Clippers on Christmas night, and if you would have told him that two weeks ago, he wouldn't have been happy. Never mind that he gets the chance to play with All-Stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.

Put on amnesty waivers by the New York Knicks, Billups warned teams not to claim him. His preference was to become a free agent and sign with either the Miami Heat or Los Angeles Lakers.

The Clippers ignored Billups' demands and claimed him anyway. The next day, they traded for Paul – another point guard – which angered Billups even more.

"My whole thing was if they were pursuing C.P., why would they get in my way?" Billups said. "When they got me, the C.P. trade was off. Then it was back on, off, back on and then, boom, they get C.P. It made me more like, 'Why would y'all get in my way if that is what you were trying to do?' ""