Los Angeles Clippers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Clippers, Blazers Discussed DeAndre Jordan

June 26th, 2013 at 1:01pm CST by Luke Adams

Before Doc Rivers was hired by the Clippers, the team discussed a possible DeAndre Jordan deal with the Trail Blazers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). With Rivers now involved in the Clippers' basketball decision-making, it's not clear what Jordan's value is or whether Portland still has interest, says Wojnarowski.

It makes sense that the Blazers would have some interest in Jordan, since the club will be looking to add a rim-protecting center this summer. And with a Kevin Garnett deal no longer on the table for the Clippers, Los Angeles is free to explore other possible deals involving Jordan. I would assume that even if the Clippers and Blazers were to continue discussing Jordan, a deal wouldn't happen before July, since the Blazers will be able to take advantage of its potential cap space at that point.

Jordan is currently projected to earn $10,986,550 next season, a figure that would increase if he were moved, due to his 15% trade kicker. So any deal would have to involve significant salary coming back to L.A. or a suitor with significant cap room to take on Jordan's salary.

Stein On McHale, Clips, Celtics, Garnett, Pierce

June 26th, 2013 at 9:27am CST by Luke Adams

ESPN.com's Marc Stein took to Twitter late last night to pass along some items on the fallout from Doc Rivers' move from the Celtics to the Clippers. Here are the highlights from the ESPN.com scribe (all links go to Twitter):

Rockets head coach Kevin McHale is off-limits for the Celtics in their coaching search, in part because Houston feels McHale is a key component of the team's pitch to unrestricted free agent Dwight Howard.
The Clippers are resigned to the fact that the only way they could land Kevin Garnett now would probably involve KG retiring, sitting out a few months, then unretiring and signing with L.A.
Even in that scenario, it's not clear whether the NBA would approve. As Stein notes, although trades aren't allowed, there appears to be wiggle room via free agency for both Garnett and Paul Pierce. The NBA isn't addressing that possibility now, but certainly would if it became more real.
The Celtics may now be leaning toward keeping Pierce through this week and guaranteeing his full 2013/14 salary, in which case he and KG could start next season in Boston.
Given that possibility, the Celtics are considering two options in their coaching search, according to Stein: Hiring a more established coach if the veterans remain on the roster, or going younger if a full rebuild occurs.

Clippers, Magic Having Bledsoe, Afflalo Talks

June 25th, 2013 at 9:55pm CST by Michael Pina

9:55pm: According to Orlando Sentinel reporter Joshua Robbins, any deal involving Afflalo and Bledsoe is not imminent.

7:56pm: The Clippers and Magic are further discussing a trade that could happen on or before draft day that would send Arron Afflalo, Andrew Nicholson, and a draft pick to Los Angeles for Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler, according to ESPN.com's Chad Ford, Ramona Shelburne, and Marc Stein.

Those are the pieces believed to be involved in current talks, but there are still a variety of alternatives, with Bledsoe and Afflalo being the two main figures.

Now that Doc Rivers has become the Clippers head coach, assuring Chris Paul will re-sign for five more years, Bledsoe is no longer needed as insurance. He's still incredibly talented and would help the Clippers in the short term, but the Magic are one of a half dozen teams pursuing Bledsoe's services.

It'd be wise for Los Angeles to cash out on their asset before he hits restricted free agency, maximizing their return to fill a larger need.

Celtics, Clips Can’t Swap Players Through 2013/14

June 25th, 2013 at 5:20pm CST by Luke Adams

5:20pm: ESPN.com's Marc Stein tweets that the provision also applies to trades involving three or more teams, so no deals involving both the Clippers and Celtics will be allowed next season.

4:11pm: The Celtics and Clippers have officially agreed on compensation and completed a deal that will make Doc Rivers the new head coach in Los Angeles. However, according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, the agreement includes one notable detail that hadn't been previously reported. Berger tweets that the Celtics and Clippers have agreed that they can't exchange players until after the 2013/14 season.

We knew that the league was likely to disallow any trade involving Kevin Garnett heading to the Clippers, since the CBA doesn't permit one deal to be contingent on another, and the NBA viewed Garnett as connected to Rivers. Still, the agreement reported by Berger is even more extreme, eliminating the possibility of any deals between the two clubs for at least a year.

Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean that Paul Pierce couldn't still end up on the Clippers. L.A. can't trade for him, but if Pierce is bought out before June 30th, he could theoretically still sign with the Clips as a free agent.

Doc Rivers To Become Clippers Head Coach

June 25th, 2013 at 3:54pm CST by Michael Pina

3:54pm: The Celtics have issued a press release announcing that they have allowed Rivers to pursue a coaching opportunity with the Clippers, and that Boston will receive a future first-round pick as compensation. With the deal now finalized, GM Danny Ainge will meet with the media at 5:30 central time today, according to a second press release.

Meanwhile, the Clippers have officially announced that Rivers will serve as the team's head coach and senior VP of basketball operations, with a media session scheduled for Wednesday.

2:23pm: Rivers has signed his deal with the Clippers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter).

TUESDAY, 1:33pm: A source tells Murphy that Rivers is expected to fly to Los Angeles today and sign his contract with the Clippers tomorrow. The Clips also figure to formally introduce Rivers as their new head coach tomorrow after he inks his deal.

3:50pm: According to Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald, the NBA has yet to formally approve the Rivers transaction. A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com hears that the hold-up is related to Rivers and the Clippers still ironing out the details of the head coach's new contract (Twitter link). I'm guessing that the NBA is fine with the compensation agreement — it's just a matter of the Clippers finalizing the details from their end.

MONDAY, 2:29pm: A league source tells Jackie MacMullan of ESPNBoston.com (Twitter link) that the NBA has approved the compensation agreement for Rivers, which will send a first-round pick to the Celtics.

SUNDAY, 5:26pm: Pending league approval, the Clippers and Celtics have reached an agreement that will result in Doc Rivers becoming head coach of the Clippers, writes ESPNBoston reporter Jackie MacMullan. In exchange for letting Rivers out of his current contract with the team, the Celtics will receive an unprotected first round pick in 2015 from Los Angeles.

The Clippers will pick up the remaining three years remaining on Rivers' contract, worth $7MM annually, $21MM total, tweets Los Angeles Times reporter Brad Turner.

In a move unrelated to this deal, the Celtics are also trying to trade longtime franchise player Paul Pierce for a first round pick. If they are unable to to secure a deal before June 30 (the deadline on Pierce's contract that makes his $15.3MM contract guaranteed next season), they'll look to move him this February before the trade deadline.

According to a tweet from ESPNLA.com's Ramona Shelburne, the Clippers were prepared to hire either Byron Scott or Brian Shaw as their head coach, if Boston didn't accept their offer of an unprotected first round pick in 2015.

Latest On Paul Pierce

June 25th, 2013 at 10:26am CST by Luke Adams

Although the Cavaliers and Bucks are among the teams that have expressed interest in Paul Pierce, the longtime Celtic is unlikely to be sent to either of those clubs if he's traded this week, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein. Stein reports that the C's have shown an inclination to work with Pierce in an effort to send him to a favorable destination if they make a deal by week's end.

Boston continues to seek a first-rounder for Pierce, so if the team receives an offer from a contending team willing to give up a first-round pick, the 35-year-old could be moved within the next few days. However, if such a deal doesn't materialize, the Celtics are prepared to guarantee Pierce's full $15MM+ salary, since the club believes he'll still have trade value throughout the offseason and up until the 2014 trade deadline. Pierce's contract is currently partially guaranteed for $5MM, but will become fully guaranteed if he's not waived on or before Sunday.

Although the Celtics' decision to let Doc Rivers out of his contract to join the Clippers, in exchange for a first-round pick, may have signaled the start of a rebuilding period, it's still possible that Boston could start the 2013/14 season with Pierce and Kevin Garnett on the roster. According to Stein, the Celtics believe retaining Pierce may help convince KG to stick around without Rivers, rather than retiring or asking for a trade.

It's also possible that Pierce could be dealt this week to a team that intends to buy him out for the cap savings, says Stein. In that scenario, Pierce could end up reuniting with Rivers by signing with the Clippers in July.

Kyler’s Latest: Bledsoe, Marion, Warriors, Deng

June 25th, 2013 at 9:37am CST by Luke Adams

With the 2013 draft now just two days away, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld tackled some of the most frequently mentioned trade rumors, passing along the latest updates he's heard on Eric Bledsoe, Shawn Marion, and others in today's NBA AM piece. Here are the highlights:

A rumored deal that would send Bledsoe and Caron Butler to the Magic in exchange for Arron Afflalo may also include Andrew Nicholson and/or a 2015 draft pick going to the Clippers, says Kyler. L.A. appears to be exploring all its options for Bledsoe, but if no team tops Orlando's offer, a trade could happen on draft night.
While the Mavericks are denying that Marion would be attached to a deal involving the No. 13 pick, Kyler is hearing that there are two scenarios on the table that include Marion and the pick. One is with the Cavaliers, while the other is with the Pelicans. A Marion deal isn't necessarily Cleveland's top priority, however, and the fact that Marion has yet to officially exercise his 2013/14 player option may also be complicating discussions.
The Warriors would like to trade into the draft and pick up a late first-round pick, but given the team's proximity to the tax line, adding a guaranteed rookie salary to the books may not make sense for Golden State.
Breaking down the latest Luol Deng rumors, Kyler notes that it makes sense for Deng to play out the final year of his contract with the Bulls, but adds that he's heard a couple sources describe an eventual Deng trade as "inevitable."
Following up on the rumor that the Cavaliers tried to acquire LaMarcus Aldridge, Kyler says there are rumblings the Suns made a play for Aldridge as well. It seems unlikely that the Trail Blazers would move the big man at this point, but there's certainly a market for him.
Kyler confirms that the Timberwolves, who have been very aggressive over the last few weeks, tried to make a play for MarShon Brooks involving the No. 26 pick.

Odds & Ends: Rivers, Granger, Ellis, Muhammad

June 25th, 2013 at 12:02am CST by Zachary Links

Doc Rivers is sold on the "new" Clippers, but still isn't sold on owner Donald Sterling. That could be part of the delay in the two sides hammering out the final details of his contract. A source close to Rivers told Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald he was getting pulled hard in different directions last week as the Celtics and Clippers were negotiating a deal.

On one hand, Doc had coaching types telling him he had to jump at the opportunity to coach Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. However, others told him he would be crazy to step into the asylum that has been the Clippers over the years. Regardless, the contract seems like nothing but a formality at this point and we should see Rivers introduced as the new head man in L.A. this week. Here's more from around the Association..

Chad Ford of ESPN.com hears that the Cavs are engaged in trade talks with a number of teams and sources say the Thunder, Timberwolves, and Blazers have been the most proactive in trying to get the No. 1 pick. Meanwhile, Ford still believes that Cleveland will go with Nerlens Noel if they keep the top selection.
Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (via Twitter) asked an NBA executive for some names that are hot-and-heavy in trade talks. The names he got back were the Pacers' Danny Granger, the Bucks' Monta Ellis (sign and trade), the Rockets' Thomas Robinson, and the Wizards' Jan Vesely.
Brian Shaw's deal with the Nuggets will be either three years or four years, tweets Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com. The Nuggets hired the Indiana assistant earlier this evening.
A source tells Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link) that UCLA product Shabazz Muhammad worked out for the Pistons today. The source said that the audition went well for the guard/forward.
The Wolves are still offering Derrick Williams around the league to see what they can get for him, tweets Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. The T-Wolves reportedly believe that Williams and the No. 9 pick can vault them into the top three.
Recently appointed Kings assistant GM Mike Bratz said he's more of a see and "feel" guy in evaluating talent, but does use stats and analytics, tweets Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.
Former Celtics standout Antoine Walker told Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe (on Twitter) that he is "serious" about becoming an NBA coach.

Florida Notes: Magic, Bledsoe, Heat, Birdman

June 24th, 2013 at 8:43pm CST by Zachary Links

While the Heat can’t and won’t do too much to shake up their roster this summer, they do have some important decisions to make as they chase their third consecutive NBA title. Five Miami veterans in total will be eligible for free agency but there’s one in particular that is a higher priority than the others. Here’s more out of Miami and Orlando..

Not a shocker, but Chris Andersen confirmed to Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida (via Twitter) that he wants to re-sign with the Heat when the free agency period kicks off on July 1st. “He put it clearly,’’ said agent Mark Bryant of his client’s stated desire to return for a three-peat next year. “(The Heat) gave him an opportunity and he absolutely wants to come back.’’ The most the Heat could pay Andersen next season is their taxpayer midlevel exception of $3.183MM. Meanwhile, the least they could pay is the veteran minimum of $1.4MM.
The Magic‘s pursuit of Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe continues and reports of a draft day deal sending him and Caron Butler to Orlando for Arron Afflalo has legs, tweets Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. The Magic have been aggressive in looking at trades in addition to draft prospects and a Bledsoe package could be part of bigger deal (link).
The Magic need a young point guard but it doesn’t seem like they’ll reach and take one at No. 2, writes Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.

Odds & Ends: Kobe, LeBron, Rivers, Roy, Mavs

June 24th, 2013 at 1:52pm CST by Luke Adams

We covered many of the pertinent points from Sam Amico's latest NBA report at FOX Sports Ohio earlier today in a post that rounded up today's Cavs rumors. But Amico's piece also features a few more notable tidbits, including word of the Blazers exploring moving up in the draft, the Bucks preparing to make a splash, and league executives beginning to believe Dwight Howard will sign with the Rockets. In addition to Amico's notes, we're hearing plenty of news and rumors from around the league, with the draft just three days away, so let's dive in….

Although Kobe Bryant has talked in the past about possibly retiring when his current contract ends in 2014, he recently said on Brazilian television that he could see himself playing for "another three or four years." Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times has the details and a link to the video clip.
A year from now, we could be looking forward to a sequel to The Decision, as LeBron James decides whether to exercise the 2014 opt-out in his contract with the Heat. For now though, LeBron tells CNN's Rachel Nichols that he hasn't thought about potential free agency, and will address it when the time comes (link via Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel).
A source tells TNT's David Aldridge that Doc Rivers will have more say in the Clippers' basketball decisions than he did for the Celtics.
While he stopped short of officially declaring his NBA career over, Brandon Roy acknowledged to ESPN.com's Kevin Pelton that it's no secret his basketball days are "numbered" (Twitter links).
With Chris Paul seemingly on track to re-sign with the Clippers, Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com writes that the Mavericks will have to move on to their Plan B at point guard, and identifies a few possible targets.