Doc Rivers Open To Coaching Son If He Is Traded By Pelicans
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Doc Rivers would be open to coaching his son if Austin Rivers became available in a trade.
The guard could be sent to the Celtics to help complete Boston's impending trade of Jeff Green to Memphis. The Celtics reportedly wouldn't keep Rivers, and that would allow him to be traded, possibly to the Clippers.
The elder Rivers was asked Sunday if a family reunion had been discussed in his household.
"None scheduled right now," he said. "If it got to that point, we would talk, clearly."
Rivers said the Clippers are going to do what they feel is best to improve their team. As president of basketball operations, Rivers would have the authority to sign off on acquiring his 22-year-old son. Austin Rivers is averaging 6.8 points, 2.5 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 22 minutes for the Pelicans.
Rivers said that when he coached in Boston, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge was "really high" on Austin and they had several discussions about acquiring him, but it never happened.
"I've been through this whole thing before," he said.
A league-imposed one-year ban on any talks between the Celtics and Clippers has expired, "so it's good we can talk again," Rivers said.
When asked about his son's involvement in the trade to Boston, Rivers joked Saturday, "I guess I shouldn't have sold my condo."
In the past, both father and son have said they were opposed to being on the same team, but the elder Rivers appears to have softened his stance.
"I think a year ago I probably wouldn't," he said. "I think I would for sure. I think this team could handle that."
Asked how he would balance either being too hard on his son or favoring him, Rivers said, "I love my son, but I'm still going to favor Blake (Griffin) and Chris (Paul) first. The only one who would be upset at that is (wife) Kris Rivers."
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