Austin Rivers signing takes Clippers out of the running for Durant

Amazing. Austin Rivers' ludicrous three year $35 million deal with Clippers means they now cannot sign Kevin Durant. Guess they figured they had no chance at KD anyway and went ahead and gave Rivers that much money to re-sign. If he wasn't Doc's son, would any guard who shoots 40.8% for his career, is a below average three point shooter, shoots 63% on free throws and has only averaged 7 points, 2 assists and 2 rebounds in 21 minutes for his first five seasons get three years and $35 mil?

Anything to keep Doc happy.

Just one more huge example of the new insanity that is running wild in the NBA.

This guy, no matter who's son he may be, should be a three year and $15 M type of player.

His re-signing amount and duration makes Evan Turner's crazy contract look like Turner may have signed for too little.

So, now it comes down to:

1.  GSW, who is desperate now that Barnes is signing with Dallas.

2.  San Antonio.  Great organization and coach, but with older stars.  A MUCH smaller window.

3.  Miami.  It seems to me Riley can have DWade OR Durant but not both.  I'm sure he'd rather have Durant at this point, but I'm not sure Durant would want to go to Miami if DWade is gone and Bosh's recurring health issues make his retirement a possibility.

4.  OKC.  Clearly the car with the pole position.  However, if Westbrook is leaving then Durant will not want to be there.  If Sam Presti thinks he's going to lose Westbrook he might trade him before the trade deadline to a team that Westbrook promises to re-sign with, like KG did with us.  If that happens, then I don't htink Durant will want to be there.  Ibaka is already gone.

I still give the nod to OKC, just because I don't want to jinx this, but I'm liking our chances a heckuva lot better today than early yesterday, especially after hearing that Durant spent the day in Boston and flew back to the Hamptons with Tom Terrific, and that we signed a player that Durant was recruiting for OKC.


bob

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http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2016/07/kevin_durant_rumors_los_angele.html



Kevin Durant rumors: Los Angeles Clippers reportedly informed they will not land superstar




Kevin Durant has reportedly told the Los Angeles Clippers he will not sign with them this summer. (Nate Billings/The Oklahoman via AP)


Jay King | mjking@masslive.com By Jay King | mjking@masslive.com




on July 03, 2016 at 6:10 AM, updated July 03, 2016 at 8:31 AM




And then there were five.

Kevin Durant's list of six teams has been shortened by one after news he has informed the Los Angeles Clippers he will not join them this summer.

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Ben Bolch ✔ @latbbolch
Seems obvious by now but Clippers have been told that Kevin Durant will not be joining them.
9:34 PM - 2 Jul 2016
 172 172 Retweets   160 160 likes


After receiving the news, the Clippers reportedly reached agreements with two of their own free agents: Austin Rivers, who will sign a three-year, $35-million contract, and Wesley Johnson, who will make $18 million over the next three years. The team no longer possesses enough cap flexibility to even dream about squeezing Durant in next to their preexisting list of stars.

One other effect of the Clippers' roster moves: USA Today's Sam Amick reported Jamal Crawford received an offer from the team that will "very likely lead to him leaving." That news might have encouraged Boston Celtics All-Star Isaiah Thomas to publicly recruit his close friend on Twitter:

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Isaiah Thomas ✔ @Isaiah_Thomas
@JCrossover might as well come to Boston my brotha lol. I know we would take you!
7:27 PM - 2 Jul 2016
 5,112 5,112 Retweets   5,968 5,968 likes


Despite Thomas' claim, the Celtics don't seem like a probable landing spot for the high-scoring guard. Even with Evan Turner leaving, the perimeter rotation is crowded with Thomas, Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart and Jae Crowder all likely to earn a load of minutes plus youngsters Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier and R.J. Hunter expected to be in the mix. The Golden State Warriors have registered interest in Crawford, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, but that pursuit will need to wait until Durant decides where to play.



bob


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Brian Robb
@CelticsHub about 8 minutes ago
Imagine telling Doc Rivers three years ago that the Clippers would be out of the running for Kevin Durant in free agency before Celtics.

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bob
MY NOTE: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND we got a 1st round pick for him! Danny, you beauty...


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Clippers' dilemna:

http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/07/03/reports-clippers-make-offer-to-jamal-crawford-hes-not-impressed-likely-to-move-on/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs&yptr=yahoo

Austin played the absent father card in his negotiations.