Los Angeles Clippers guard Chauncey Billups, more than seven months removed from season-ending surgery to repair his torn left Achilles tendon, said on Friday he doesn’t anticipate he will be ready to play when the season opens up next month.

Billups’ new timetable will be closer to November or December, meaning he will at least miss the Clippers’ season opener against the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 31. It had been Billups’ goal before the season to be on the court for that game and play 82 games this season.

The Clippers’ offseason additions, which included Jamal Crawford, Lamar Odom and Grant Hill, helped Billups realize he didn’t need to rush back and attempt to return before he was ready.

“The depth actually gives me a little sense of relief and allows me to take my time and come back when I’m really ready because we have such great depth,” Billups said. “This is going to be the deepest team I’ve ever played for. As far as just being deep all the way throughout, it’s the deepest team I’ve ever played for.”

via Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com