LOS ANGELES – Chris Paul isn’t coming to Los Angeles, at least not now.

The Clippers on Monday rejected a proposed deal by the New Orleans Hornets for the All-Star guard because the team felt “the cost was just too high,” GM Neil Olshey said.

Whether the deal is altogether dead, though, remains to be seen. The Clippers later claimed five-time All-Star Chauncey Billups off waivers. The 35-year-old point guard was waived by the New York Knicks last weekend.

Olshey declined to identify whom the Clippers had offered in exchange for Paul, but their package reportedly included center Chris Kaman, reserve guard Eric Bledsoe, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and their No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA draft. Reports suggested the Hornets also wanted guard Eric Gordon included.

It’s the second time in five days that a deal moving Paul to Los Angeles fell apart. Last week, NBA Commissioner David Stern nixed a three-team trade by the league-owned Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets that would have sent Paul to the Lakers.

The Clippers matched Golden State’s four-year, $42.7 million offer for center DeAndre Jordan.

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CELTICS: Boston signed draft picks JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore and re-signed Sasha Pavlovic.

The 6-foot-10 Johnson was the player of the year and defensive player of the year in the Big Ten last season, when he averaged 20.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks for Purdue. The Celtics took him with the 27th pick of the first round.

The Celtics finalized a trade, getting forward Brandon Bass for Orlando for forward Glen Davis and guard Von Wafer.

 

GRIZZLIES: Marc Gasol announced he reached a tentative agreement to stay in Memphis.

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TIMBERWOLVES: Minnesota is closing in on a deal with free-agent point guard J.J. Barea, who spent the past five years in Dallas.

Minnesota finalized its contract with No. 2 overall draft pick Derrick Williams and signed him to his rookie deal.

 

KNICKS: Carmelo Anthony hyperextended his left knee but could return to practice today.

 

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ROCKETS: Houston signed first-round pick Marcus Morris and claimed guard Jeremy Lin off waivers from Golden State.

 

PISTONS: Detroit waived Richard Hamilton after both sides agreed to terms.

 

MAVERICKS: Dallas re-signed veteran forward Brian Cardinal.

 

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RAPTORS: Toronto agreed to terms with free-agent guard Anthony Carter, who split last season between Denver and New York.

 

CAVALIERS: Cleveland re-signed guard Anthony Parker, who averaged 8.3 points in 72 games last season.

 


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