Clippers/Celtics Updates: Monday
The trade talks between the Celtics and Clippers aren't quite dead yet, but they also didn't move forward at all yesterday, as we detailed in a pair of posts rounding up Sunday's updates. Though the two sides have reached a stalemate for now, they continue to engage in talks and hope remains of finding an agreement, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). We'll keep tabs on today's new items right here, with any further updates added to the top of the page throughout the day:
- The price to complete the deal may come down to the Clippers' willingness to include a second first-round pick, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. After pushing for the Clippers to take back long-term contracts, the C's relented and have shown willingness to complete the deal for DeAndre Jordan and two first-round picks. The Clippers are willing to give the Celtics Jordan and one draft pick, but are resisting a second future pick. Boston has also dropped their pursuit of Eric Bledsoe, which could help speed things along.
- The two sides have decided to leave the office for the evening and will reconnect tomorrow morning, league sources tell Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Earlier updates:
Clippers/Celtics Updates: Sunday
There were a lot of moving parts involved in Saturday's dominant storyline, a proposed trade that would send Celtics mainstays Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett to the Clippers. Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com, with an assist from Chris Broussard, as well as Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times rounded up the relevant details late last night. Based on their reports, here's what we know right now:
- The Celtics are seeking Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Jordan and at least one future first-round pick in return for Garnett and Rivers. They're also insisting the Clippers take on the contract of either Jason Terry or Courtney Lee.
- The Clippers are reluctant to give up Bledsoe, in large measure because of his value for other potential swaps, perhaps a sign-and-trade for Dwight Howard. Still, a source tells Turner that a swap of Bledsoe and Blake Griffin for Howard won't happen.
- An executive told Turner that the Clippers appear to be holding up the deal, while the Celtics want to hurry it along, given Rivers' desire to coach the Clips.
- If the Clippers do the deal, they'd follow by pursuing Paul Pierce. The Celtics may waive Pierce by June 30th to prevent his $15.3MM contract, which is partially guaranteed for $5MM until that date, from becoming fully guaranteed.
- Clippers owner Donald Sterling is willing to give Rivers a three-year deal worth about $6MM per year, or about $1MM less annually than what Rivers would make with the Celtics.
- The Celtics are prepared to bring Rivers back as their coach if no deal is reached with the Clippers. Garnett, like Rivers, has yet to commit to playing next season, but the chance of him doing so would be significantly enhanced if Pierce is back with the Celtics as well.
- If the trade doesn't happen by Tuesday or Wednesday, the Clippers will choose between Lionel Hollins and Brian Shaw for their next coach. Of the two, Hollins is the front-runner, but both are also in the mix for the Nuggets job.
Odds & Ends: Clippers, Afflalo, Karl
The Celtics–Clippers saga continues with Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski saying that Eric Bledsoe had been a part of discussions between the two teams until Saturday morning (Twitter). The Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett mentioned earlier that Doc Rivers might feel uncomfortable returning to the Celtics after this flirtation with the Clippers, but Wojnarowski said within the Celtics it hasn't been acrimonious between team and Doc (Twitter).
ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne thinks the Clippers should dare the Celtics to cut Paul Pierce (he's owed $15.3MM if he's not waived before June 30th), and see if Kevin Garnett and Rivers will really hold to their promise to only be moved from the Celtics as a tandem (Twitter). Shelburne goes on to cite an objective league source who proposed the Clippers keep DeAndre Jordan and Bledsoe, sign Pierce after he's waived, and trade Caron Butler and a pick for Garnett (Twitter).
Shelburne also says that the Clippers have been "shaking every tree" looking for a third star to complement Blake Griffin and Chris Paul if he re-signs this summer (Twitter). According to Shelburne, the Clippers have expressed interest in Danny Granger and Arron Afflalo already as a possible third threat on their roster.
Here are some more tidbits about the Clippers and Celtics as well as other teams around the league on this rumor-filled Saturday night with a huge game 5 in the NBA Finals tomorrow.
- Shelburne also reports there's nothing yet between the Clippers and Lionel Hollins (Twitter), which means it probably won't happen until the Rivers talks die for good.
- Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times on the impasse surrounding the Clippers–Celtics talks, and Marc Stein and Shelburne at ESPN.com have updated their post about the ongoing trade talks between the Clippers and Celtics.
- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel with some more about Magic off-guard, Arron Afflalo, who tweeted out tonight that he was "listening and observing" with all the Clippers rumors.
- Lost amid the Garnett and Doc trade rumors is the very real possibility the Celtics waive Pierce and he joins the Clippers or Lakers since he grew in Los Angeles' tough Inglewood neighborhood, writes ESPNLA.com's Arash Markazi.
- Markazi also thinks the Clippers should pull the trigger on the Doc and Garnett deal despite losing Bledsoe because he feels Rivers is an improvement over proposed coaching hires, Hollins or Brian Shaw (Twitter).
- Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal reports the Grizzlies will interview George Karl for their head coaching vacancy on Tuesday.
- Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports that the Rockets will be looking to spend big in free agency this summer. They'll obviously target free agents, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, but they're also looking to add more veterans to such a young team.
- Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer talks about whether the Cavs made a mistake hiring Mike Brown so soon with so many available coaches this offseason.
- Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio chatted with former Celtics great, Dave Cowens, about what Jason Kidd needs to do differently now that he's no longer playing, but instead is the Nets' new head coach.
- Kidd did a Q&A with Steve Serby at the New York Post about his new coaching job.
- Speaking of the Nets, Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com spoke to their point guard Deron Williams about a rivalry "forming" between the Knicks and Nets.
- Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News writes about Nets GM Billy King taking a risk on Kidd as a coaching hire despite his lack of coaching experience because Kidd is close to the Nets' point guard, Williams.
Clippers Drop Trade Offer For Rivers
8:40pm: Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski writes that discussions between the Clippers and Celtics have stalled and the primary reason is Bledsoe.
The Clippers are willing to part with Jordan and a first round pick for Garnett and the rights to Rivers, but have refused to include Bledsoe in the package, according to Wojnarowski's sources. Garnett will only waive the no-trade clause in his contract if Rivers joins him with the Clippers, the sources added.
Danny Ainge has requested Bledsoe and a second first-round pick for Garnett and Rivers' rights, but everyone involved believes Bledsoe's inclusion would get the deal done.
Not only that, but sources tell Wojnarowski that Rivers has informed Clippers management they shouldn't give up Bledsoe so they can acquire him as coach, saying he'd like to coach him with the Clippers.
Rivers has yet to talk with Chris Paul about his plans for the summer and would need to do so, if he were to come west. It's believed that if Garnett and Rivers are traded to the Clippers that will lead Paul to sign with them in July.
It should also be noted that all sides involved in the trade discussions want to get a deal done soon, and don't want the discussions to linger much longer.
Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald confirms that the Celtics-Clippers deal appears dead for now and the only question is whether the trade discussions have made it too awkward for coach Rivers to return to the Celtics. Rivers has three years, at $7MM per, remaining on his contract.
8:10pm: The Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett reports that sources have told him the Celtics-Clippers trade talks are "dead," and now the bigger question is whether Doc will feel awkward he expressed interest in coaching another team (Twitter links).
7:42pm: Wojnarowski says discussions between the Clippers and Celtics have "stalled," and the question becomes how soon before one side–or both–bails (Twitter).
Wojo adds that throughout the back-and-forth with the Clippers, the Celtics have insisted to Doc Rivers that if it doesn't go through, they want him back as coach (Twitter).
7:34pm: Sources tell Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski the Clippers–Celtics trade for Rivers and Garnett is "not looking good, but I wouldn't say (it's over) for sure" (Twitter).
Wojnarowski continues to reiterate the primary obstacle standing in the way of the deal: the Clippers are unwilling to part with Jordan and Bledsoe, and sources tell Yahoo Sports that Celtics GM Danny Ainge wants Bledsoe. (Twitter).
Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com says that the Clippers were looking for a long-term asset for Bledsoe (Twitter).
6:34pm: After flirting with the possibility of seizing Celtics coach, Doc Rivers, as well as Kevin Garnett, in a deal we've been following all day, it seems the Clippers will be moving on and will offer their head coaching position to either Brian Shaw or Lionel Hollins some time this week, according to the Los Angeles Times' Brad Turner (Twitter).
Rivers has been informed the Clippers won't accept the Celtics' offer, and he's prepared to stay with the Celtics moving forward (Twitter). Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com adds that the Clippers were very resistant to parting with DeAndre Jordan and Eric Bledsoe in the effort to acquire Rivers and Garnett since Garnett is only under contract for two more years and the younger Bledsoe is more valuable (Twitter).
Shelburne adds that the Clippers felt strong about the Hollins and Shaw coaching options and weren't ready to "mortgage the farm" for Doc (Twitter).
Latest On Clippers, Celtics Blockbuster Talks
4:40pm: The Clippers initially offered Bledsoe and Caron Butler to the Celtics, but the Celtics want Jordan and Bledsoe, tweets Shelburne, who adds that L.A. is trying to keep one of the two.
4:37pm: A source tells Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe that he "guarantees" Paul will re-sign with the Clippers if Rivers comes to coach the team. Part of the Clippers' unwillingness to include Bledsoe in the deal has been concern over whether Paul, a free agent this summer, would be back, Holmes writes. Meanwhile, the Celtics have shifted their focus from trying to keep Rivers to working on a deal that sends him to the Clips, according to Holmes.
4:16pm: The Clippers would prefer to acquire both Garnett and Pierce if they can get Rivers, as Shelburne and Marc Stein write for ESPN.com. The Clippers aren't looking to relinquish Blake Griffin in these trade talks, preferring to strengthen their team around Paul and Griffin, according to the report. Shelburne also tweets that the Celtics are primarily focused on acquiring Jordan. If Garnett waives his no-trade clause to head to the Clippers, he'll forfeit about $1.17MM because of higher state taxes in California, according to noted sports accountant Robert Raiola (Twitter link; hat tip to Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun).
3:50pm: Garnett and Rivers are seen as a package deal, with each unwilling to go to the Clippers unless the other joins him, a source tells Shelburne, who hears that Paul Pierce might not be a part of the trade talks for now (Twitter links). Since the Clippers could sign Pierce as a free agent if the Celtics decide to waive him by June 30th, when the guarantee on his contract for next season jumps from $5MM to $15MM+, he's been in and out of trade discussions, Shelburne reports (Twitter links). The Clippers like Rivers, but they remain determined not to "mortgage the farm" in terms of compensation for Rivers, since Lionel Hollins was so impressive in his interview with the team yesterday, Shelburne also tweets. Ultimately, if a deal between the Clips and Celtics is to come together, it will happen by the middle of next week at the latest, according to Shelburne (Twitter link).
3:34pm: The Celtics and Clippers are discussing a deal that would send DeAndre Jordan and two first-round picks to Boston for Kevin Garnett and the right to hire Rivers as coach, writes Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Presumably, the picks and the rights to Rivers would be structured as one deal, while the players would technically be involved in a separate transaction, since a coach can't be traded for current players under NBA rules. Clippers owner Donald Sterling is prepared to pay Rivers about $7MM annually, which is what he's making with the Celtics, according to Wojnarowski.
The hang-up in the deal continues to be Celtics GM Danny Ainge's insistence that Eric Bledsoe be a part of the swap, Wojnarowski adds. While the Clippers appear unwilling to make that happen, Bledsoe would be all right with going to Boston, despite the presence of fellow point guard Rajon Rondo, a source tells Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com (Twitter link).
Rivers could be speaking with soon-to-be free agent Chris Paul today to get his assurance that he'd re-sign with the Clippers as long as Garnett and Rivers join him in L.A., as Wojnarowski also reports. Both Rivers and the Celtics want closure on the process, so there's pressure to complete the deal within two days.
Celts, Clips Build Momentum For Rivers, KG Deal
3:19pm: The final hurdle for a deal involving Garnett and Rivers is Ainge's desire for Bledsoe to be a part of the trade, Wojnarowski hears (Twitter link).
3:08pm: If the Clippers can work out a deal to acquire Rivers, Garnett would waive his no-trade clause to join the Clippers as well, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
3:03pm: The Celtics and Clippers have begun discussing players who would be exchanged if the Celtics were to allow Doc Rivers to coach in L.A., reports Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. Both sides are seeking common ground, though many moving parts remain. Technically, the Clippers could only send cash and draft picks in return for Rivers, but a side deal involving current players could be worked out.
Ainge appears to be using Rivers as leverage to get the Clippers to agree to a deal involving players that they wouldn't otherwise consider, according to Bulpett. Several in the Clippers front office were wary of a trade-deadline proposal that would have sent Kevin Garnett to the Clips in exchange for Eric Bledsoe and DeAndre Jordan. Vinny Del Negro, who's no longer with the Clippers, was one of the advocates for the deal, but L.A.'s management was never really interested, Bulpett writes.
The Celtics would prefer to keep Rivers, who still has three years and $21MM left on his deal, but now that they know he's wary of staying with them for the long haul, they're considering their options. Still, Rivers remains sentimental about the C's, and hopes a win-win can happen for both teams should a deal go down. A source tells Bulpett that if the Celtics and Clippers can't work anything out, Rivers would be happy to return to Boston's bench. Another of Bulpett's sources is uncertain of Rivers' regard for the Celtics, and believes he's merely trying to massage the perception of his exit.
We heard earlier today that Rivers, Garnett and Paul Pierce would like to stay together as Clippers if they can't do so as Celtics. Pierce could wind up with the Clippers as part of a trade, or they could sign him if the Celtics release him by June 30th, since his $15MM+ salary for next season is only guaranteed for $5MM until that date.
Latest On Doc Rivers, Clippers
With rumors continuing to swirl about Doc Rivers' future, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times spoke to several NBA executives about the saga and about reports of mutual interest between Rivers and the Clippers. Here are the highlights from Turner's piece:
- Most of the executives who spoke to Turner agreed that the possibility of Rivers coaching the Clippers next season is "far-fetched." Asked if he could see Rivers joining the Clippers, one executive replied: "I don’t think so. It is very complicated. They [the Celtics] have a guy under contract. Maybe they’d let him out if this happened or that happened. It’s all very speculative."
- If the Celtics were to let Rivers explore the Clippers' job, GM Danny Ainge would want significant compensation, according to multiple executives. Two execs suggested Ainge would ask for Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Jordan, and Caron Butler's expiring contract, along with two first-round picks, in exchange for Kevin Garnett, Courtney Lee, Jason Terry, and Rivers. That list of names seems somewhat speculative to me, but it provides an idea of how high Ainge might aim.
- Even if Rivers were to part ways with the Celtics, he'd still have to negotiate a new contract with Donald Sterling and the Clippers, who likely wouldn't come close to matching the $7MM annual salary Rivers is earning in Boston.
- Earlier today, we passed along a report indicating that former Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro could interest the Celtics if they lose Rivers.
Mutual Interest Between Doc Rivers, Clippers
8:52pm: Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald reports that Danny Ainge had denied the Clippers permission to contact Rivers earlier this week, though Rivers is said to now be intrigued at the prospect of other coaching opportunities.
7:57pm: Frank Isola of the New York Daily News (via Twitter) cites a source who tells him that Rivers ending up with the Clippers is "gaining momentum."
4:01pm: If Doc Rivers decides to part ways with the Celtics this offseason, there would be "strong mutual interest" between Rivers and the Clippers, according to Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. The ESPN.com duo reports that the idea of coaching the Clippers would be highly intriguing to Rivers, and that the current Celtics coach would be L.A.'s number one choice should he become available.
According to Stein and Shelburne, the Celtics would like Rivers to return and don't want to see him coaching another team next season, considering he has three years left on his contract in Boston. However, if Rivers decided he wanted to leave, the C's could potentially be persuaded to let him go to the Clippers if they received compensation, whether that came in the form of a veteran player or draft picks.
The ESPN.com report also includes a number of other juicy Clippers and Celtics tidbits, so we'll round them up here:
- Trade discussions between the two teams prior to February's deadline included expanded deals which would have sent both Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Clippers, with Eric Bledsoe and DeAndre Jordan among the pieces going to Boston. While those talks were unsuccessful at the time, it's possible the two sides could revisit them this summer. As the ESPN.com scribes point out, the L.A. job could become even more appealing to Rivers if Garnett or Pierce were heading west with him.
- No matter who is hired as the Clippers' head coach, the team is expected to very aggressive when it comes to roster moves, looking to re-sign Chris Paul and then upgrade the roster around CP3 and Blake Griffin.
- The Clippers have some interest in the rumored deal that would send Bledsoe and Caron Butler to the Magic in exchange for Arron Afflalo, but would likely want at least one more asset to part with Bledsoe.
- If the Celtics decide to bring back Pierce, it would greatly increase the odds of Garnett playing another season, which in turn would figure to improve the chances of Rivers returning as well.
Pacific Notes: Howard, World Peace, Kings, Clips
Earlier today, the Clippers signed DaJuan Summers for the season, and we passed along word that Grant Hill is likely to retire at season's end. Here are a few more Thursday items from out of the Pacific Division:
- Chris Broussard of ESPN.com (Insider-only link) expects Dwight Howard to re-sign with the Lakers, but notes that there are other potentially attractive destinations in play. Broussard breaks down the pros and cons of three likely Howard suitors, the Hawks, Rockets, and Mavericks.
- Metta World Peace's rehab from knee surgery is off to a good start, though his future is still uncertain, writes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News.
- As Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld explains, when the NBA Board of Governors votes on the future of the Kings, the decision won't necessarily come down to Seattle vs. Sacramento, since the Board can't force the Maloofs to sell to the Sacramento group. The Board of Governors will simply be voting on whether or not to approve the sale to the Seattle group, so if the sale is to be declined, there will need to be real cause.
- In his latest column for the Los Angeles Times, T.J. Simers argues that the immaturity of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan is dragging the Clippers down, and says Jordan "blames [head coach Vinny] Del Negro for burying him on the bench."
Western Notes: Rockets, Clippers, Garnett, Mavs
Here's the latest from around the Western Conference, where the Lakers are three games back of the Rockets for the eighth seed and three and a half back of the seventh-place Jazz:
- Although his plan was being openly questioned in NBA circles eight months ago, GM Daryl Morey continues to build the Rockets into a team with strong long-term potential, observes Grantland's Zach Lowe. Within his piece, Lowe writes that Morey and assistant coach Kelvin Sampson were both fixated on acquiring James Harden, and that the team would like to add a defense-first wing to the roster.
- The Clippers were "closer than people think" to acquiring Kevin Garnett for Eric Bledsoe and DeAndre Jordan last week, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
- Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News questions whether the Mavericks ought to try to build a team around Dwight Howard, even if the All-Star center is willing to sign in Dallas this summer.
- Although Dirk Nowitzki indicated recently that he hopes to play for a few more years, his focus for now is more on the short term, as he tells Jeff Caplan of NBA.com. "[Mark Cuban]’s obviously said his bank’s open, so we’ll see what happens this summer," Nowitzki said. "It’s going to be a big summer for us. We want to get back to winning ways. We always competed and were part of the playoffs, so we’ll see what happens this summer. It’s going to be a big summer for this franchise."
- The Thunder decided to bring back Derek Fisher for the stretch run because they know exactly what they're getting in the veteran point guard, writes Susan Bible of HoopsWorld.