Sources: 'Substantive' talks; no deal

By ESPNBoston.com

The wait continues in the Doc Rivers saga. The latest from ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne:
It appears that the saga surrounding Doc Rivers and his proposed cross-country relocation from the Boston Celtics' bench to the Los Angeles Clippers' bench will drag out at least one more day.

Sources close to the process told ESPN.com that the Celtics and Clippers held "substantive discussions" Monday on the proposed multi-layered transactions that would send Rivers and Celtics star Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles. But the teams, sources say, remain unable to agree on a final trade framework to go through with the two deals, even after Boston relented on its insistence that the Clippers include prized young guard Eric Bledsoe as part of the package for Rivers and Garnett.

Another element of the talks, sources said, is the negotiations between Rivers and the Clippers on a coaching contract. Rivers has three years left on his original five-year, $35 million deal with the Celtics and will be looking to stay in the same salary range if Boston ultimately receives what it deems sufficient compensation to let the 51-year-old out of that deal.

So the Clippers, in what NBA coaching sources are terming a "separate process," have moved ahead with their coaching search just in case, for one reason or another, they'll be unable to pry Rivers out of Boston. They've arranged sitdowns this week for Byron Scott (Tuesday) and Brian Shaw (Wednesday) with Clippers owner Donald Sterling, with the other finalist for the Clippers' job before the pursuit of Rivers got serious -- Lionel Hollins -- having already met with Sterling.

Yet numerous sources connected to talks continued to express optimism Monday that the Celtics and Clippers will agree to terms this week, with some interpreting the Clippers' plans to resume talks with the likes of Shaw and Scott as their latest thinly veiled message to the Celtics that they aren't afraid to walk away from the table.

"It's a dance right now," said one source close to the process. "I think it'll eventually happen. They're just staring at each other."

Said another: "It's certainly not dead. I think they have an idea of the main parties who would be involved, but now they've got to figure out smaller details and negotiate a deal with Doc."
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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/report-clippers-celtics-talks-rivers-024031211--nba.html

The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers have re-initiated discussions on a restructured deal that would bring coach Don Rivers and Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles in a multiplayer deal, ESPN.com reported.


 Complicating the negotiations is a report from the Boston Globe that Rivers is not sure whether he wants to coach the Clippers or remain with the Celtics. The deal is contingent on the fact that Rivers would agree to become the Clippers' head coach. However, a source close to Rivers told the Globe that Rivers is still debating whether he wants the Clippers job, especially with the trade scenarios getting more complicated. 


Trade discussions seemed to break down over the weekend because the Clippers were adamant that guard Eric Bledsoe will not be included in a trade for Garnett.


The proposed alternative to the inclusion of Bledsoe is having Clippers take on the expensive contract of either Courtney Lee or Jason Terry from the Celtics. That could prevent the Celtics from demanding Bledsoe, and a trade could be completed by late Monday or Tuesday. The Celtics would get center DeAndre Jordan, the expiring contract of Caron Butler and a future first-round draft pick from Los Angeles in the deal.


Such a deal would include the Celtics' consent to allow Rivers out of the final three years and $21 million on his contract.


The Clippers believe that the deal would guarantee that Chris Paul will re-signs with the team when he becomes a free agent July 1, according to the ESPN.com report. That might also enable the Clippers to pursue Paul Pierce.


 If a deal cannot be completed, the Clippers are expected to hire Lionel Hollins or Brian Shaw as their new coach.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/sports/basketball/proposed-celtics-trade-could-send-rivers-to-the-clippers.html?_r=0

Proposed Celtics Trade Could Send Rivers to the Clippers

By PETER MAY
Published: June 17, 2013


BOSTON — They once traded franchises. They took months to formalize what should have been a simple deal for Bill Walton. Now, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Clippers are discussing a trade involving a coach.



These teams just do not do the predictable when it comes to trades. The Celtics and the Clippers are discussing a proposal to send Coach Doc Rivers and forward Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles in return for center DeAndre Jordan and a No. 1 pick. There could be additional draft picks or spare parts added to make the deal pass salary-cap muster.

Clippers point guard Chris Paul reportedly is pushing hard for the deal as a condition of his re-signing with the team, moving the historically difficult-to-deal-with Clippers owner Donald Sterling to the background.

If the deal is completed, it will most likely signal the end of Paul Pierce’s 15-year career with the Celtics. The team has a $5 million buyout option on his contract, which must be exercised by June 30.

If the Celtics do not trade him before then, they will probably exercise the option to continue the rebuilding process, which Pierce wants no part of. He has one year left on his contract, at more than $15 million, and has said he intends to play next season. He turns 36 in October.

There has been speculation that Pierce may join the Clippers if the Celtics waive him.

A person briefed on the discussions said Monday that Danny Ainge, the Celtics’ president for basketball operations, originally wanted the young point guard Eric Bledsoe included in the deal and was trying to persuade the reluctant Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck to allow Rivers to leave two years into a five-year, $35 million deal. The Clippers have since said the inclusion of Bledsoe is a nonstarter, which caused an earlier proposal to collapse.

Reports on Monday, however, indicated the teams were talking again, with Ainge asking the Clippers to take either Jason Terry or Courtney Lee. That could involve the Celtics taking back the expiring contract of Caron Butler.

Garnett, who turned 37 in May, would have to waive his no-trade clause for the deal to be completed, something he reportedly would do if it meant staying with Rivers, whom he admires.

Should no deal occur, the person briefed on the discussions said the Celtics would hasten the rebuilding process by using their amnesty card on Garnett, who is due more than $18 million over the next two years, and then exercising the Pierce buyout.

Attempts to reach Rivers and Ainge on Monday were unsuccessful.
The inclusion of Rivers in the proposed trade is fitting seamlessly into the tortured history of complicated, unconventional Celtics-Clippers transactions.

In 1978, the owner of the Celtics was Irv Levin, a Hollywood film producer and business executive. He wanted a franchise in Southern California. He persuaded the owner of the Buffalo Braves, the Kentucky Fried Chicken mogul John Y. Brown, to exchange franchises and moved the Braves to San Diego.

Several players also were included in the deal, including Nate Archibald, Marvin Barnes, Sidney Wicks and Kermit Washington. Levin sold the San Diego team, renamed the Clippers, to Sterling in 1981, and in 1984, Sterling moved the team to Los Angeles.

In 1985, the Celtics had their eyes on Walton, who had signed with the Clippers as a free agent in 1979, but who played in only 14 games in his first three years because of injuries. The Celtics offered Cedric Maxwell and a No. 1 pick for Walton, but the Clippers and Sterling made things difficult.

Alan Cohen, the Celtics’ owner in 1985, once said of Sterling: “Donald is the nicest, sweetest guy who will give you two dimes for a quarter and think he’s doing you a favor.”

Sterling’s own general manager at the time, Carl Scheer, said of his boss: “Dealing with Donald was impossible. He could not make up his mind. If he took an elevator down, he’d ask the operator what he thought and by the time he reached the lobby, he’d changed his mind.”

Both sides called the trade dead, but it eventually went through in September 1985. Walton helped the Celtics to an N.B.A. title the next season, earning Sixth Man of the Year honors. He appeared in a career-high 80 games.

Now the key player is not a player at all, but Rivers, a highly regarded coach who spent one season with the Clippers as a player. Rivers just completed his ninth season with the Celtics. He would replace Vinny Del Negro, whose contract was not renewed.

Adrian Wojnarowski
Yahoo! Expert
Sources: Kevin Garnett, Doc Rivers trade may come down to Clips surrendering 2 draft picks
1 hour 43 minutes ago

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For the Los Angeles Clippers to bring Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers to chase the franchise's first NBA championship, the price to complete a deal could come down to a willingness to include an additional first-round draft pick in the package to the Boston Celtics, league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Monday night.

Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers are headed in a new direction with the Clippers. (AP)


 After pushing for the Clippers to take back long-term contracts, the Celtics relented and have shown willingness to complete the deal for DeAndre Jordan and two first-round draft picks, sources said. The Clippers are willing to give the Celtics Jordan and one draft pick, but were resisting a second future pick, sources said.

The two teams are planning to talk again on Tuesday morning, and the fragile negotiations could climax over the draft pick compensation, sources said.

If the Clippers become the championship contenders that they expected this trade will make them, the additional draft pick would likely be near the end of the first round.

 The financial investment in this deal for Los Angeles is unprecedented for the franchise, and it could be giving it 11th-hour pause. The Clippers must pay a $3.5 million trade kicker on Jordan's contract and finalize an agreement with Rivers on a five-year deal worth approximately $35 million, league sources said.

 For the Clippers, Rivers and Garnett can solidify the franchise upon arrival: Bringing championship pedigree, performance and unifying forces for the locker room. Most of all, the Clippers believe they'll assure the franchise the re-signing of free-agent guard Chris Paul.

 Boston has dropped its pursuit of guard Eric Bledsoe, but wants two draft picks as compensation for Rivers, sources said. Rivers has decided that he doesn't want to be a part of the Celtics' rebuilding process, and has requested that Boston work out a compensation package to allow him to go the Clippers. The Garnett-Jordan deal will simply be player for player, and the picks will serve as compensation for Boston to release Rivers of the three years and $21 million left on his contract.

 The Clippers believe that the Celtics don't want to bring Rivers back after this public negotiation and his clear desire to leave, nor does L.A. believe Rivers will walk away from the remaining money on his deal to make far less in television, sources said.

Rivers is still torn over whether he would stay with Boston should this deal fall apart, sources said. Boston runs the risk of being unable to find another team that Garnett, 37, will waive his no-trade clause to join. He's willing to accept the deal to the Clippers for several reasons, including his fondness for playing for Rivers and a chance to play for a contender near his Malibu home.

Discussions over a blockbuster deal reached an impasse on Saturday when Celtics general manager Danny Ainge held firm that Bledsoe had to be a part of package that included Jordan and a first-round pick, but sources say that Boston has shown a willingness to find another asset to supplant Bledsoe and complete the complicated deal, sources said.

Boston had to move Courtney Lee (three years, $16.2 million left on his deal) or Jason Terry (two years, $10.6 million), for the expiring contracts of Caron Butler ($8 million) or Willie Green ($1.4 million), but the Clippers refused to take on the additional salary in any combination and the Celtics eventually moved back to the Jordan and two draft pick offer on Monday.

Rivers has coached the Celtics for nine seasons, winning an NBA championsihp and reaching the NBA Finals another time.