Los Angeles Clippers Blog – Page 46 – NBA Blog

Celtics search to replace Doc Rivers begins now

Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge thought Doc Rivers was going to be the next Gregg Popovich, Jerry Sloan or even Red Auerbach – coaches who stayed with one team for decades.

Rivers got the nine-year itch.

”He felt like it was time for a change. He felt like we all needed a change,” Ainge said on Tuesday night after the deal to allow Rivers out of his contract to coach the Los Angeles Clippers was final. ”That was his rationalization, or justification, for going to the Clippers: that this was better for everybody.”

After weeks of negotiations that at one time had Boston stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce joining Rivers in Los Angeles, the Celtics announced on Tuesday that the NBA approved the deal to allow their coach to go to the Clippers in exchange for a first-round pick in 2015. Ainge said in a news conference that he had not begun looking for a new coach because he couldn’t believe until late in the on-again, off-again process that Rivers was actually leaving.

Reported by Jimmy Golen of the Associated Press

Doc Rivers to become head coach of L.A. Clippers

Doc Rivers is abandoning his sinking ship and switching coasts. It’s the end of an era in Boston.

In a deal forced by his unwillingness to endure rebuilding, Rivers bailed on Boston and agreed Sunday to coach the Clippers, according to multiple sources. As compensation, L.A. gave up a 2015 first-round pick — and, in the process, presumably solidified Chris Paul’s return as a free agent — clearing the way for Rivers to resume title-hunting while the Celtics go about rebuilding around Rajon Rondo, who will return next season following ACL surgery.

The Clippers are picking up the three years and $21 million remaining on Rivers’ contract, following interviews with candidates Byron Scott, Brian Shaw and Lionel Hollins.

The next big question is what happens to future Hall of Famers Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, both of whom don’t fit into Boston’s long-term plan. The Clippers were also negotiating a deal to land Garnett for DeAndre Jordan, but that was blocked by the NBA because it was deemed part of a coach trade. Any subsequent deals sending Garnett to the Clippers would also be blocked, according to commissioner David Stern.

Reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News

Clippers interested in Byron Scott for head coaching job

The Los Angeles Clippers have intensified discussions with Byron Scott about their head coaching position, according to league sources.

Clippers president Andy Roeser has broached financial parameters of a potential contract with Scott’s representatives, sources said. After talks with the Boston Celtics regarding Doc Rivers broke down again Friday, Roeser reached out to Scott’s camp.

It is not clear whether the Clippers’ recent contact with Scott means he is the front-runner among the non-Rivers candidates, a source said.

Sources told ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne the Clippers still intend to revisit the Rivers talks one more time, but are using the weekend to make sure they can quickly move on to one of the other three candidates — Scott, Lionel Hollins and Brian Shaw — should the talks with Boston go nowhere.

Reported by Chris Broussard of ESPN the Magazine

Clippers will keep trying to land coach Doc Rivers

The Clippers will make another effort Monday to try to complete a deal with the Boston Celtics for Coach Doc Rivers, said NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The Clippers and Celtics talked again Friday but couldn’t make a deal.

“I think there is still some life left in it,” one executive said. “The door is not closed yet on getting a deal done.”

The Clippers won’t budge on their current offer of a second-round draft pick for the rights to Rivers, the executives said.

However, Boston wants a 2014 first-round pick for Rivers, the executives said, because that is considered a very good draft class.

Reported by Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times

Celtics, Clippers likely to resume talks about Doc Rivers

Doc Rivers may eventually end up with the Los Angeles Clippers in a proposed deal that will include players trading sides as well as draft picks. Talks between the Celtics and Clippers have stalled but will likely be resuscitated between the end of the NBA Finals and the start of the draft.

If Rivers were to switch coasts and conferences, Erik Spoelstra will then jump ahead of Rivers and hold the title of being the NBA’s second-longest-tenured head coach. It doesn’t seem right, of course, and not because Spoelstra is only 42. The number that’s stunning is that Spoelstra has only held the job for five years since replacing his boss, Pat Riley, and yet only Rivers (nine years) and San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich (17) have more tenure.

“I think it’s a terrible state for the profession right now,” Spoelstra said. “And look, all you have to do is look at the San Antonio organization and the Miami Heat organization. For true success in the NBA, you must have consistency of culture. When you see that type of turnover over and over and over, it’s impossible to create any kind of sustainable consistent culture.

“And we don’t see it as a coincidence. We’ve had the same leadership in our organization now for 18 years. Micky Arison took over, put Pat in charge. Even though we have had four different coaches, myself, Pat, Ronny (Rothstein) and Stan (Van Gundy), it still has been the same culture and relatively the same philosophy. San Antonio has been the same way for 15 years with Pop in charge.”

Reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News

Celtics in trade talks to send Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett to Clippers

The Boston Celtics are deep in discussions with the Los Angeles Clippers on a blockbuster deal to send coach Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The final hurdle of a deal centers on the Clippers’ willingness to include guard Eric Bledsoe into a trade package with Boston, sources said.

Boston and Los Angeles are discussing a package that will send DeAndre Jordan and two first-round picks to the Celtics for Garnett and the right to hire Rivers as coach, sources said.

Garnett will waive his no-trade clause to go to the Clippers, where he’ll be reunited with Rivers and likely Celtics assistant Ty Lue, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports

Clippers coaching search continues

The Clippers’ coaching carousel took many turns this week, as the team interviewed three candidates for their opening, while a fourth coach — Doc Rivers — popped up high on their wish list, said several NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The Clippers began by interviewing Indiana associate head coach Brian Shaw on Monday.

On Tuesday, the Clippers’ front office interviewed former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott, followed by former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, who was in Los Angeles on Thursday and Friday.

But the real buzz in NBA circles involved the Clippers and Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers, who both expressed some interest in each other, according to the executives.

If Rivers were to become available, the Clippers would make him their No. 1 choice to become their head coach, the executives said.

Reported by Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times

Doc Rivers and Clippers may have mutual interest

The Los Angeles Clippers have not formally requested permission to interview Celtics coach Doc Rivers in the wake of widespread reports about Rivers’ potential departure from Boston, but there is strong mutual interest between the parties, according to sources close to the situation.

Sources told ESPN.com on Thursday that Rivers is highly intrigued by the idea of coaching the Clippers in the event that he and the Celtics part company after nine seasons together and one championship in 2008. Sources say the Clippers, meanwhile, would immediately vault Rivers to the top of their list if he became available as they continue a coaching search that, to this point, has focused on Brian Shaw, Byron Scott and Lionel Hollins.

The Los Angeles Times, citing several NBA executives, reported Wednesday that if Rivers decides he doesn’t want to coach in Boston anymore, the Clippers would be interested in him and he would become their No. 1 choice.

ESPN.com has also learned the Celtics and Clippers — in an offshoot of February’s Kevin Garnett-to-L.A. trade talks — discussed expanded trade scenarios that could have sent both Garnett and close friend Paul Pierce to the Clippers before the league’s Feb. 21 trade deadline.

Reported by Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com

Grant Hill retires from NBA basketball

The Los Angeles Clippers today announced that seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill will retire after 19 seasons.

For more than two decades, Hill, 40, has been one of the most recognizable basketball players in the world, highlighted by a standout collegiate career at Duke, an Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the 1996 Olympics and an illustrious NBA career that saw him earn five All-NBA honors and the 1994-95 Co-Rookie of the Year Award.

“The entire Clippers organization wants to congratulate Grant on an incredible career,” Clippers Vice President of Basketball Operations Gary Sacks said. “For 19 years, Grant has always been the embodiment of class, a true professional and not only one of the best players – but one of the finest individuals I have been around. We were fortunate to have Grant with us last season, and we wish him all the best in his next endeavor.”

Hill finishes his career with averages of 16.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals in 33.9 minutes per game. In his only season in Los Angeles, Hill appeared in 29 games and averaged 3.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 15.1 minutes per game. He appeared in his 1,000th NBA game on Jan. 15, 2013 against the Houston Rockets. Hill played in 1,026 total NBA games (972 starts) and connected on 48.3 percent of his field goals, 31.4 percent from behind the 3-point line and 76 percent of his free throws over his career.

Hill was named to the All-NBA First Team in 1997 and the All-NBA Second Team in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. He also won the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award in 2005, 2008 and 2010.

Originally selected with the third overall selection in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, Hill was named Co-Rookie of the Year (Jason Kidd – Dallas Mavericks) after posting averages of 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 38.3 minutes in 70 games played. He was also named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team that season and made history by becoming the first rookie to lead the NBA in All-Star fan balloting.

After leaving Detroit prior to the 2000-01 season, Hill spent seven seasons with the Orlando Magic in which he was limited to just 200 games due to injuries to his left ankle.

Before joining the Clippers for 2012-13, Hill spent five seasons with the Phoenix Suns. In 2010-11, Hill became the seventh player in NBA history to average 13 or more points at the age of 38 or older.

A member of the 1996 United States Olympic Team, Hill helped lead the U.S. to the gold medal. He was also selected to the 2000 Olympic Team but did not play due to injury.

Hill entered the NBA after a prolific four-year collegiate career at Duke University (1991-1994), where he helped lead the Blue Devils to back-to-back National Championships in 1991 and 1992. Hill was named the nation’s top defensive player in 1993 and was named ACC Player of the Year in 1994.

Clippers not keeping coach Vinny Del Negro

Vinny Del Negro is out as the Los Angeles Clippers’ coach, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Chris Broussard.

Following one of the best seasons in franchise history, the Clippers opted not to offer a new contract to Del Negro, whose current deal will expire on June 30, sources told ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Ramona Shelburne.

Del Negro coached the Clippers to a franchise-record 56 wins this season and the Pacific Division title.

— Reported by ESPN.com