The NBA approved the Los Angeles Clippers' acquisition of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers. Because coaches can't be traded under league rules, Boston will receive a 2015 first-round draft pick as compensation. (Update Below)
ESPN reported the news on Monday. The formal announcement of the deal is now up to both teams. The Clippers signed Rivers to a three-year, $21 million deal, identical to the remainder of Rivers' deal with Boston. The Celtics will release Rivers from his contract in return for the 2015 first-round pick compensation.
Any deal for the Clippers to acquire Celtics veteran Kevin Garnett remains on hold. NBA commissioner David Stern voiced his objections to the Garnett trade last week, citing any trade involving the 37-year-old All-Star would be considered part of the Rivers trade and thus a violation of league rules.
The deal with Rivers has been on again, off again. Talks reportedly died early last week until impending free agent Chris Paul used his influence to get Clippers management to revive negotiations.
Over the weekend, Rivers allegedly became frustrated with the Clippers and instructed his agent to tell the organization he was no longer interested. A report also surfaced claiming the main reason Rivers wanted out of Boston was because of his strong dislike of Celtics guard Rajon Rondo.
Rivers, who won the NBA championship in 2008, inherits a talented roster headlined by Blake Griffin and Paul. While the Celtics and Clippers figure out if a Garnett trade is still viable, there's the potential that Boston forward Paul Pierce could join Rivers in Los Angeles if Celtics management buys out his contract.
The Clips' acquisition of title-winning coach bodes well in its attempt re-sign Paul. Although Paul hasn't formally committed to staying in Los Angeles, he reportedly pushed hard for the team to sign Rivers.
*UPDATE (6/25/13): ESPN retracted its June 24 story in which it reports league sources saying the NBA approved the Clippers' acquisition of Doc Rivers. As of Monday night, the NBA hasn't approved the deal. ESPN reports Rivers and the Clippers are still negotiating the language in the contract.
