USA Basketball doesn't plan to replace Billups
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo says he doesn’t plan to replace Chauncey Billups on the Olympic team's training camp roster, even though the veteran guard likely won't be healthy enough to participate.
Billups will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his left Achilles tendon in the Los Angeles Clippers' overtime victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday. He told Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski that doctors said he'll need six to nine months to recover. Even the shortest timeframe would extend well beyond Team USA's deadline to set its 12-man roster for the London Olympics.
Billups is one of 20 players on a camp roster that also includes Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Eric Gordon, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams. Billups helped the U.S. win the 2010 world championships.
"I really feel terrible for him in every way," Colangelo said about Billups. "Not just for the Olympics, but because it is career threatening. There is no guarantee we'd replace him [on the roster]. My gut tells me probably not.
[ Related: Chauncey Billups vows injury won't end his career ]
"We have a lot of guards. I will check with coach [Mike Krzyzewski], but probably not."
Colangelo, however, is concerned about additional potential injuries during the NBA's lockout-shortened season impacting players on the U.S. roster. Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Gordon, Rose and Lamar Odom have all had health issues this season.
"There are a lot of injuries," Colangelo said. "It's a long season. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I've been worried all along."
Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
• Which Super Bowl commercials actually worked?
• Forbes: Tiger Woods, Michael Vick among most disliked athletes
• Pat Forde: Another case for Kentucky Wildcats as nation's best college hoops team
