How does this all play out? One league source said he expects Doc Rivers to be coaching the Celtics next season.
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) June 20, 2013
As we reported, a source close to Rivers said, “Doc wants to coach.” It’s C’s or Clips — and the latter option is fading.
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) June 20, 2013
This has been, without a doubt, one of the most absurd sagas I’ve ever seen in NBA history.
From the BEGINNING, those of us (myself included) who doubted there was any legitimacy to this said 2 things:
1: Donald Sterling is too f’ing cheap to do this. That was proven the first time this deal died. Slumlord Sterling didn’t want to take back salary… and he didn’t want to give up two #1 picks. It took a threat from his franchise player, Chris Paul, to rekindle this wildfire.
2: You can’t trade coaches anyway. Yes, they can walk away from a contract for some compensation, but you can’t tie that to a player transaction.
It never made sense.
But these two teams, and both deserve equal blame, continued this ridiculous endeavor despite all the warning signs. Now David Stern is smirking his smug smirk and wagging his finger at them like he’s Dikembe Mutombo.
One or both of these teams couldn’t resist blathering about the proposed deal for whatever reason. Maybe it was a public nod to Chris Paul to say “see… we’re doing things!! PLEASE DON’T LEAVE US!!” Maybe it was Boston. Who knows. All I know is the blatant, obvious ties between Doc and KG going to the Clippers have possibly killed the deal. Like for real this time.
And now we’re left with this. After being beaten over the head with how much both teams wanted this so they could begin their respected processes of moving towards their opposite goals, neither team could get squat. And now Doc may have no choice but to come back if he wants to coach.
And we’re supposed to…. what… forget all this happened?
Good luck with that.
Look, I don’t blame anyone here for wanting this. The Clippers want to get over the hump and contend. Danny wants to get this rebuild over with. Doc wants to be happy with his job, and KG wants to play for Doc in his last year or two.
All of that is fine with me.
But this clusterf*ck has turned everyone into a fool. This has been a bumbling mess at every turn, and we’re all sick of it.
Both teams have made a mockery of the process. It’s time to end it, hire your crisis PR firms, and move on.
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