Tweet
It’s done: Clippers reach agreement with Celtics on a deal to hire Doc Rivers as head coach | ProBasketballTalk
Our long national nightmare is over, as the Clippers and Celtics have agreed in principle on a deal that will allow Doc Rivers to become the head coach in Los Angeles.
According to multiple reports, Rivers has agreed to a three-year contract worth $21 million to coach the Clippers, which is the same amount he had left on his deal with the Celtics.
As compensation, the Clippers are sending an unprotected 2015 first round draft pick to Boston. The deal still requires approval from the league office, although with no players’ contracts tied to this one as they were in previous iterations, it’s expected to go through without issue.
It will be very interesting to see now if the Clippers are able to convince the NBA that the acquisition of Rivers came with no strings attached in the form of a side deal for Kevin Garnett or Paul Pierce. While the coach will in all likelihood to be allowed to change teams in exchange for the draft pick compensation, it would be surprising if the two teams didn’t continue to pursue a deal that would send Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles, and that’s where things might get complicated in the commissioner’s eyes.
For now, the Clippers appear to have landed one of the elite head coaches. And perhaps more importantly, the move is likely to help secure the return of Chris Paul, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The expectations will be at an all-time high in Los Angeles next season with Rivers running the show and with Paul back in the fold, and that’s even before we start talking about additions or tweaks to the Clippers roster.
Rivers coached nine seasons in Boston, and led the Celtics to a title in 2008.
According to multiple reports, Rivers has agreed to a three-year contract worth $21 million to coach the Clippers, which is the same amount he had left on his deal with the Celtics.
As compensation, the Clippers are sending an unprotected 2015 first round draft pick to Boston. The deal still requires approval from the league office, although with no players’ contracts tied to this one as they were in previous iterations, it’s expected to go through without issue.
It will be very interesting to see now if the Clippers are able to convince the NBA that the acquisition of Rivers came with no strings attached in the form of a side deal for Kevin Garnett or Paul Pierce. While the coach will in all likelihood to be allowed to change teams in exchange for the draft pick compensation, it would be surprising if the two teams didn’t continue to pursue a deal that would send Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles, and that’s where things might get complicated in the commissioner’s eyes.
For now, the Clippers appear to have landed one of the elite head coaches. And perhaps more importantly, the move is likely to help secure the return of Chris Paul, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The expectations will be at an all-time high in Los Angeles next season with Rivers running the show and with Paul back in the fold, and that’s even before we start talking about additions or tweaks to the Clippers roster.
Rivers coached nine seasons in Boston, and led the Celtics to a title in 2008.
Comment