Doc Rivers has three years and $21 million left on his contract with the Boston Celtics, but there is growing speculation that he will not return to Beantown next season. Now the latest reports say that there is mutual interest between Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers, who have a vacancy after parting ways with Vinny Del Negro.
The Los Angeles Times’ Broderick Turner reported on Wednesday that Rivers would be at the top of the Clippers’ list if he decides he does not want to return to Boston. On Thursday, ESPN’s Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne reported that Rivers is “highly intrigued by the idea of coaching the Clippers.” They say there is strong mutual interest between both sides.
Multiple reports have indicated that Rivers may want to leave Boston after coaching the Celtics for the past nine seasons. The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn reported this week that speculation has grown that Rivers may step down as head coach. What are some of the reasons? CSN New England says Rivers may not want to stick around for a full-on rebuild considering Boston’s stars are aging.
Though there may be strong interest between the Clippers and Rivers, working out a deal for him to coach the team will not be easy.
First off, Rivers is scheduled to earn $7 million per season. The Clippers have a notoriously cheap owner who likely will not want to pay that amount. Secondly, since Rivers is still under contract with the Celtics, the Clippers might have to offer Boston some sort of compensation to persuade them to release the coach from his contract. A deal could be arranged, but I just don’t think it will be easy to figure out.
Brian Shaw, Byron Scott, and Lionel Hollins are other candidates for the job. If I’m the Clippers, Hollins would be the guy I’d want to hire.
