Billups would've been welcomed by Heat

MIAMI — Chris Bosh had called for point guard Chauncey Billups to come to Miami. So had Eddie House.

But Billups didn't end up having a choice. Billups, who was an amnesty cut by New York late last week, was picked up on waivers Monday night by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Earlier Monday, Bosh, a Heat forward, had said, "Yes, I would like to see Chauncey (in Miami)…. I think he fits here." And House, a guard, had said, "If it happens, that would be a great thing."

Billups, a six-time NBA All-Star, would have considered Miami had he cleared waivers and become a free agent. He wanted to play for a contender.

Earlier Monday, incumbent point guard Mario Chalmers had told FOX Sports Florida he would not have considered it a threat had the Heat picked up Billups.

"I've been working hard for that starting position and I feel like I have it," said Chalmers, who signed a three-year, $12 million contract last week as a restricted free agent.
 
Chalmers was asked if he would feel that way even if Billups were to join the Heat.
 
"Yeah," Chalmers said.

Billups, 35, won't be coming to Miami. But there's still the possibility of the Heat getting another veteran point guard. It's not out of the question Cleveland could make Baron Davis an amnesty cut by Friday's deadline. Or another player could surface.

The Heat brought in veteran point Mike Bibby last March for what they hoped would be a run to the championship. That relegated Chalmers to the bench, although he did end up replacing an ineffective Bibby for Game 6 of a six-game Finals loss to Dallas.

"Whatever's best for the team," Chalmers said of if the Heat bring in another veteran point this season. "It's not going to change the way I play the game or the way I approach the game."

Earlier Monday, without any names mentioned, coach Erik Spoestra was asked if a more established NBA point guard eventually could be picked up by Miami.

"The best part about my job is that's (Heat president Pat Riley's) job," said Spoelstra, who later said the Heat probably will keep a roster spot open this season in the event any possible extra piece becomes available. "I think we have enough. At the same time, I know the personality of my boss. He's always pushing and trying to improve our organization. If we see something that we think helps (and) makes sense, we've proven and Pat's proven he'll pull the trigger."

Spoelstra, though, does like Chalmers.

"It's shows that our view of Chalmers and everything that's he's gone through is objective," Spoelstra said of the Heat re-signing Chalmers after three season with Miami. "We don't care at all what the perception is out there. We've always viewed him as a talented, productive young point guard who has great potential in this league. And we wanted to spend time developing that. And he's really grown over the course of three years."

Chalmers, who averaged 6.4 points and 2.5 assists and 7.8 points and 2.1 assists in the playoffs, will have a chance to prove he should remain as the starting point guard.
 
Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com or on Twitter @christomasson.