After several weeks of rumors, and on-again/off-again trade negotiations, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers have agreed on a trade that would see current Celtics coach Doc Rivers coaching the Clippers next season.
According to multiple reports Rivers has agreed to a three-year contract worth $21 million to coach the Clippers. This is the same amount as he had left on his current deal with the Celtics. As compensation for taking Rivers, The Clippers are sending an unprotected 2015 first round draft pick to Boston. The move has been agreed but will require league approval.
In order for the league to approve the transaction, they must be convinced that there are no side-deals included as part of this trade. A coach and a player can not be traded in the same transaction. This could prove to be an issue as Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have been rumored to the Clippers since last year’s trade deadline. David Stern stated earlier in the week that he would not approve any deal that included such a secondary transaction.
The hiring of Rivers is expected to go a long way in helping the Clippers to re-sign free agent point guard Chris Paul. It has been reported that Paul has been pushing the Clippers to bring in Rivers for the last several weeks.
For Boston, this move may signal the beginning of the rebuild of a roster that is aging. It will be interesting to see how far the Celtics are willing to strip this roster bare, in starting to build a new championship contender.
Rivers has coached the Celtics for nine seasons, including leading the team to the NBA Championship in 2008. He also coached the Orlando Magic for four seasons from 1999-2003. His career record is 587-473.
Rivers played for the Clippers in the 1991-1992 season.
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photo credit: Lorianne DiSabato via photopin cc
