Sources: Doc Rivers Agrees To Coach Clippers
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — After weeks of negotiation, the Los Angeles Clippers have agreed in principle to sign former Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, pending league approval.
Sources say that Rivers will sign with the Clippers for three years and $21 million. The Celtics will be compensated with a 2015 first-round pick after agreeing to release Rivers from his remaining three years and $21 million left on his contract.
Sources close to the situation also told ESPN that the team believes the signing of Rivers will solidify the re-signing of Chris Paul, who would currently become a free agent on July 1, to a new deal.
Former Laker Brian Shaw and Byron Scott were reportedly next in line to be considered if a deal with Rivers was not to be reached.
The Celtics are schedule to give a press conference at noon on Monday, where Rivers is expected to discuss his decision.
Rivers coached the Celtics for nine seasons, and led Boston to a national championship in 2008.
Under Rivers, the Celtics returned to the finals in 2010, but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, whom they defeated in the 2008 finals.
He also coached two NBA All-Star teams, in 2008 and 2011.
Trades that involve coaches have only happened around half a dozen times in NBA history.
The NBA originally suggested that the chances of Rivers going to the Celtics were small, since his movement had been tied to talk of a player trade in Kevin Garnett, and was therefore against the collective bargaining agreement.
