per Bonnell: I just got off the phone with Charlotte Bobcats player-personnel chief Rod Higgins, who said there's no truth to the rumor the Bobcats might claim Chauncey Billups off waivers. Higgins said he contacted Billups' agent, Andy Miller, recently, but only out of courtesy. Billups has said he doesn't want to be claimed by a non-contender, and would consider retirement if such a team claimed him. "I asked about Chauncey, but only because of the respect I have for that player,'' Higgins told the Observer. "In terms of what we're doing (i.e. rebuilding), it doesn't make sense for us.''