Chauncey Billups was essentially already fired without being fired

whether Chauncey Billups NBA coaches again depend heavily on the outcome of his FBI investigation. However, Billups’ days seem to be over Portland Trail Blazers have already been completed, despite the organization not officially firing him.

Billups was arrested by the FBI on Thursday, Oct. 23, for alleged participation in and direct knowledge of an illegal gambling ring that rigged high-stakes poker games, defrauding many millions of dollars. This conspiracy was led by some of the most famous crime families, including members of La Cosa Nostra.

At the same time Billups was arrested, the FBI also took Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier into custody and charged him with participating in an illegal sports betting scheme using insider NBA information. The FBI also arrested former NBA talent and coach Damon Jones for his involvement in both illegal schemes.

Immediately, the same day he was arrested, Billups’ future with the Trail Blazers became clouded. The The NBA immediately dropped Billups, along with Rozierand it was revealed on Wednesday that neither will receive their NBA salary for the 2025-26 season while on leave.

Since Billups’ arrest in Portland, more details have emerged about what went on behind the scenes as CEO Joe Cronin and the organization appointed a former NBA champion and assistant coach Tiago Splitter will take over on the side.

Splitter and Cronin spoke in the Blazers locker room hours after news of Billups’ arrest became public. conveying details and all instructions which they had, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. Although they didn’t know much about what was going on, Splitter and Cronin gave a strict mandate to the players, telling them not to contact Billups.

Although he was only placed on leave and not fired by the team, it appears the Blazers are already gone from the Hall of Fame.

Many Blazers players wanted to reach out to Billups, as he has been a leading voice for the young organization for years. But no players have spoken to Billups since he was arrested.

Before the first game without Billups on the sidelines, the Blazers held a players-only meeting, led by veterans Damian Lillard and Jrue Holidayaccording to Shelburne. Lillard emphasized how important it is for the group to stay united, no matter what happens with Billups or how much some individuals care about him because other teams won’t feel sorry for them.

With Splitter as interim head coach, the Trail Blazers have won three of their last four games, averaging 126 points per contest.

What happens to Billups from now on depends solely on what happens with the FBI investigation. Then again, it looks like the Blazers are already moving on and putting Billups in the rearview mirror after he was placed on leave.

Last April, Billups and the Trail Blazers agreed to a new multi-year extension after he completed his fourth season with the team. It is likely that this contract will be voided for cause if Billups is found guilty of the charges he faces.