ESPN Although Celtics team president Danny Ainge has stated that Doc Rivers will return to coach Boston next season, Rivers believes it "may be time for a change," according to a source close to the situation "Doc loves coaching," the source told ESPN. "He loves coaching in Boston. But he feels it may be time for a change." Rivers, who has been attending the Celtics' pre-draft workouts, is unsure of what he wants to do and has not yet ruled out returning to Boston for a 10th season. He has a very close relationship with Ainge, and the source said that is one factor that is making his decision so difficult. CBS Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge are on the same page in wanting to avoid a rebuild of the Celtics, but it's not clear whether enough moves could be made to persuade Rivers to return for his 10th season as Boston's coach, league sources told CBSSports.com. Nearly six weeks after the Celtics' season ended with a first-round playoff loss to the Knicks, Rivers remains noncommittal about coaching in Boston next season. His public comments on his future stand in stark contradiction to his immediate announcement that he'd be back after the Celtics lost to the Heat in the 2011 Eastern Conference finals. This time, after the Celtics lost to the Knicks in six games, Rivers said, "I'm coming back until I say I'm not." Rivers, 51, has three years and $21 million left on the contract extension he signed after that loss to Miami two years ago. In his only public comments since Boston's season ended, Rivers told the Boston Globe this week, "I'd rather not say," when asked if he planned to coach the Celtics next season. According to an NBA front-office source, Rivers has given indications that he "might be ready for a new situation." Rivers has been attending the Celtics' pre-draft workouts and huddling with Ainge to chart the offseason strategy -- one that could become an exit strategy for Rivers if the remnants of Boston's Big Three era can't be parlayed into moves that sustain the team as a championship contender. "[Doc] has been pretty open that he doesn't want to coach in a rebuilding environment," said a person briefed on Rivers' conversations with Ainge. "And if they make some moves, they're not going to have a rebuilding environment. That's Danny's challenge."
Houston? He can bring Garnett after we acquire Howard. Then Chris Paul will sign with us because we have a black coach.
I can understand not signing up for a new contract in a rebuilding situation, but with 3 years left on the contract to just want to walk away because the situation isn't good for your win-loss record???
Boston and the Lakers seriously need to trade with each other to stay relevant. First, LA needs to fire D'Antoni and hire George Karl or Phil Jackson. Second, LA trades Gasol, Blake, Duhon and Jordan Hill for Pierce, Garnett and Boston's No. 1 pick (16 overall), before June 30. Garnett waives his no trade clause and doesn't retire because 1) he lives in LA and gets to keep playing with Pierce, and 2) Boston tells Garnett they will waive Pierce by June 30th if he doesn't agree to the deal, costing Pierce $11 million in salary next year. Pierce also gets to play for his hometown, the best landing spot for him considering Boston will end up cutting him anyway. Third, these moves convince Dwight to resign with the Lakers to play for the new superstar coach and the new "Big 5". LA then amnesties Metta (if he picks up his option), to save a lot of cash. Gasol moves to his natural position of center for Boston and becomes his old self again. Rivers sticks around to coach a now younger, but balanced and still experienced team.
Yeah Dwight must really want to play defense only on that team cause he;s only getting 5-6 shots/game with that kinda lineup.
Mutual interest between Doc & the Clippers Also from the story: ESPN.com has also learned that the Celtics and Clippers -- in an offshoot of February's Kevin Garnett-to-L.A. trade talks -- discussed expanded trade scenarios that actually could have sent both Garnett and close friend Paul Pierce to the Clippers before the league's Feb. 21 trade deadline. Sources say that those talks, before breaking down, were centered around Boston getting back both prized Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe and young center DeAndre Jordan and did not involve Clippers star forward Blake Griffin. It is not yet known if the Clippers intend to revive those trade discussions and pursue either Garnett or Pierce -- or both -- in conjunction with this month's NBA draft. But one source familiar with the Clippers' thinking told ESPN.com that the club plans to be "very aggressive" and "shake every tree" in terms of upgrading the roster this offseason. Acquiring Garnett or Pierce -- or both -- would naturally make Rivers even more of a natural coaching target for the Clippers than he already is. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Sure seems like Doc's hoping to quit on Boston AND get paid same $$$ to coach elsewhere. Someone should explain how a contract works to him.</p>— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/345287668848005120">June 13, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>PS: I don't blame Doc for wanting to coach a contender. But 2 years ago he grabbed 5 yrs/$35m to coach an aging team. Why take the $$$ then?</p>— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/345288680447045632">June 13, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Last point: Celts aren't letting Doc out of his deal w/o getting an asset for him. That's bad business. So this is now a staring contest.</p>— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/345289372297461760">June 13, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
isnt simmons a clippers fan now bc of his son? I guess it would work out for him to see pp and kg play their last few years out on his 2nd fav team
If your getting paid that much and you quit just to get another job thats poor work ethic. The clippers job will def be his last.
When Doc rolls out you think the Celtics will be willing to move Rondo? I'll give them Lin and Asik for Rondo right now. That's a good jump start for staying relevant back east.
