Contract holds up Doc Rivers deal
This story has been corrected. Read below.
The official completion of the deal that will send Doc Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers is being delayed because Rivers and his representatives are still negotiating the language in the coach's new contract league sources told ESPNBoston.com's Jackie MacMullan.
The NBA has not approved the deal yet but the league also is not holding up the completion of the transaction a league source told MacMullan. ESPN incorrectly reported earlier Monday that the league already had approved the deal.
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Sources confirmed on Sunday that the Clippers will sign Rivers to the three year $21 million contract. The Boston Celtics who agreed to release Rivers from the remaining three years and $21 million left on his current contract will receive a 2015 first round draft pick as compensation in the deal.
League and team sources also confirmed that any deal presently involving Kevin Garnett and the Clippers is on hold in light of NBA commissioner David Stern's objections to the appearance that the trade was related to the deal involving Rivers.
One source with knowledge of the NBA's thinking told ESPN.com that the league does not intend to change its stance as expressed by Stern in multiple radio interviews Thursday meaning that the league would view any subsequent trade agreement between the Celtics and Clippers involving Garnett to be part of the Rivers deal and thus in violation of league rules.
Celtics forward Jeff Green said Rivers called him on Monday to inform him of the coaching change. Although Green acknowledged he was disappointed he understands this is a business.
I can't speak for the other guys but I'm not angry at all Green told MacMullan. I'm happy for him.
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The rebuilding Celtics will be tasked with finding a replacement for Rivers who coached Boston to a league championship in 2008 and an appearance in the NBA Finals two years later.
The Celtics reached the playoffs in each of the past six seasons under Rivers winning five consecutive Atlantic Division titles from 2007 08 to 2011 12.
The Clippers' acquisition of Rivers apparently elevated Los Angeles' status as a preseason championship contender.
The Clippers moved from 15 to 1 odds to win the NBA championship next season to 10 to 1 according to R.J. Bell founder of PreGame.com.
Only the Miami Heat (3 to 1) and Oklahoma City Thunder (7 to 1) are given better odds of winning the title next season. The Spurs are also 10 to 1.
Information from ESPNBoston.com's Jackie MacMullan ESPN.com's Marc Stein and ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne and Arash Markazi was used in this report.
A June 24 ESPN.com story incorrectly reported the status of the NBA's approval of Doc Rivers' new contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. As of Monday night the NBA had not approved the deal.
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