I told two of my Clippers friends that would happen the day after the Clippers were bounced. (The Doc Rivers part) I am sure I was not alone with that guess. You knew Doc did not want to go through a rebuild with the Celtics, and the Clippers needed a coach the "super stars" would all respect. Not a lot of other options there.
The latest seems to be: Celtics insist that Eric Bledsoe be included (they want Jordan, Bledsoe and two firsts for Doc, Garnett AND Pierce). Clippers say that's a deal-breaker and say that they've now moved on and will hire Hollins or Shaw (not so much because they think Bledsoe is All That, but because they wanted to turn around and do a Griffin-and-Bledsoe trade for Dwight Howard OR Bledsoe for Aaron Afflalo) Supposedly Doc Rivers is perfectly okay with coming back to coach the Celtics if all of this falls through. Also supposedly: the Lakers WILL NOT DO a sign-and-trade. (But doesn't everybody say that until the player says he's leaving for sure anyway?)
Thanks for the updates. I can't believe a coach is being used in trade talks, takes trade talks to a whole different level. I would gladly trade Stotts for a rotational NBA player. Should they start adding coaches to the salary cap? Paul Allen should pay Jackson ungodly amount of money and then trade his ass.
I know you're joking but Wojo felt it necessary to clarify that Doc could not be traded and it was all just "compensation" for letting him out of his contract (like the Knicks got from Miami for Riley).
Bill Simmons @BillSimmons about 23 minutes ago I don't blame Doc for trying to bail, but he can't come back now. He just tried to quit on his players. Now he's going to coach them? Bill Simmons @BillSimmons about 22 minutes ago I still think this Clips-Celts trade will happen in some form. Celts don't want to pay a coach $7m a year who doesn't want to be there. Bill Simmons @BillSimmons about 14 minutes ago CORRECTED: Don't rule out this trade: Jordan, Butler, Green + a 1st rounder for Doc, KG + the Terry/Lee contracts. Clips keep Bledsoe.
Olshey in Clipperland was like the first human to emerge from the apes. I can't believe how stupid the Clippers are.
Brad Turner @BA_Turner 1 minute ago Now word is deal between Clippers and Celtics is "close to being done very, very soon." Dan Woike @DanWoikeSports 2 minutes ago Team source: Talks btwn. Clippers and Boston Celtics are "moving forward" and doing so "fast." Read more: http://hoopshype.com/twitter/media.html#ixzz2WV48tgUR
The latest: Boston is being bartered down to nothing. They wanted Jordan, Bledsoe and two firsts or the Clippers to take the bad contracts of Lee and Terry off their hands. The Clippers have called their bluff and are standing firm on Jordan and one pick and NOT taking back bad contracts, because they figure the Celtics can't keep Rivers after all this so have no bargaining power.
Looks like the Clippers kept bending over the Celtics further and further until the Celtics said 'enough'. Celtics had to establish their limit. It will be interesting to see if they work something out.
Smoke screen that the Clippers are calling the talks off.They just want to cool down the outside talk a bit.
It was reported that the Celtics shut the talks down and Ainge went as far as to call Doc and tell him talks were done and he was welcome to stay in Boston.
If Anige had to call Doc to tell him that he's welcome to stay in Boston after all that Doc has done for that city and team then he's an asshole!
I'm surprised nobody has wondered aloud whether or not a Rivers-Garnett combination wouldn't be of interest to the Blazers. I guess it would be unrealistic, because we aren't "a piece or two away" from a contender, and Garnett is older than dirt, AND we've just hired Stotts and are trying not to have too much turnover... BUT: it seems to me that teams that have had success have established a culture of winning. And Garnett is nothing if not a competitor. And old as he is, he's still an incredible team defender and has moved to playing C. And players LOVE Doc...
Reports are talking about how Doc wants to coach a contender and not a team in the middle of figuring out how to make the playoffs. Plus what the heck are we going to give up for Doc/Garnett because LA/Lillard/Batum/Leonard wouldn't go out in a situation like that.