Chauncey Billups Would Be Open to Playing for Miami Heat in 2013-14 Season

Chauncey Billups is interested in becoming one of LeBron James' many sidekicks.

The Miami Heat chased the soon-to-be free agent previously to no avail. This offseason, any pursuit stands to yield different results.

"Of course, I would have interest in Miami, of course," Billups told Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida.

Billups appeared in 22 games for the Los Angeles Clippers this past season, averaging 8.4 points and 2.2 assists per game. Injuries have limited the combo guard to just 42 games the last two years, though he did put up 15 points a contest in 20 appearances during the 2011-12 campaign.

Miami initially chased Billups after the New York Knicks amnestied him in 2011, but the Clippers outbid the Heat. When asked if the Clippers have the "inside track" on him since he's spent the last two years in Los Angeles, Billups made it clear that anything goes.

"I’m wide open," Billups said. "Free agent means free."

The Heat already have two players who play a hybrid guard role in Norris Cole and Mario Chalmers, so it's unclear if they'll have interest in Billups, who turns 37 in September. His interest in them, however, is to be expected.

Approaching the end of his career, playing for a contender and potential dynasty in the making makes sense. Any player whose time left in the NBA is limited would rather spend his final days contending for a championship above all else.

After being sent home in the first round with the Clippers by the Memphis Grizzlies, it's only natural that Billups would entertain the idea of playing for the best team in the league. Even if Chris Paul remains in Tinseltown, a title doesn't appear to be on the horizon while the Heat remain the standard.

If you can't beat them, you might as well join them.

"I was a little surprised by the timing of it," Billups said of losing to the Grizzlies. "But you look at the whole big picture, when you can't get out of the first round, it's tough. It's tough."

Far tougher than it would be if Billups was playing for the Heat.

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