Posted by Brian Robb on Jun 17, 2013
With the Celtics and Clippers trade talks still at a relative standstill tonight, a platform was needed to discuss the inordinate number of factors shaping any potential deal, as the Celtics are on the verge of revamping their franchise overnight.
In order to break it down, CelticsHub contributor and 98.5 The Sports Hub host Rich Keefe joined me for a special edition of the CelticsHub podcast. Over the action packed 30 minutes, we go back and forth about a number of tough questions facing both the Celtics and Clippers including:
-How much blame should Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge get for the trade talks?
-What does the future hold for the Clippers if they don’t do the deal?
-Which team has more leverage?
-What happens to Paul Pierce?
-If the deal does happen, could Doc Rivers come back and coach the Celtics?
You can listen to the full podcast by clicking the play button below, or download the mp3.
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Posted by Brian Robb on Jun 17, 2013
It’s an ever-changing landscape on the trade market right now, with multiple reports coming in that talks between the Celtics and Clippers involving Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers are heating up yet again as we suspected. With an endless flurry of reports and tweets hitting the web at every hour, it’s time to separate the good information from the bad and break down the realistic trade possibilities out there.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
–DeAndre Jordan has a trade kicker (15 percent) and is signed for two more seasons. He’s also handsomely overpaid.
–Caron Butler is an expiring contract (8 million). He’s like Paul Pierce, but without the rebounding or defense.
–Eric Bledsoe is a young promising point guard, but is only signed for 2013-14 season. He will be a restricted free agent after that.
–Jason Terry has a trade kicker (7.5 percent). He also has a sizable Celtics tattoo on his arm.
–Kevin Garnett is signed for two more years. The final year of his deal is only partially guaranteed (like Pierce is for next season) at six million dollars.
–All Clippers future draft picks will likely come late in the first round 24-30 range.
–All mentions of Doc Rivers imply that the Celtics would release him from his contract, not include him in a deal itself.
THE CELTICS NO-BRAINER
Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett, and long term mid-level deal (Courtney Lee and/or Jason Terry) for DeAndre Jordan, Eric Bledsoe and multiple first round draft picks.
Analysis: A pipe dream for Ainge. He clears the long-term books, sending what would now be overpaid role players packing in Lee and Terry, while also coming out with additional assets (draft picks) and a promising prospect in Bledsoe that could be groomed or dealt for more assets. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by Brian Robb on Jun 17, 2013
Doc Rivers has created a little bit of a mess for himself. Just two years after signing a five-year contract extension in the summer of 2011, he’s being accused of abandoning ship after a publicized flirtation with the Los Angeles Clippers. Rivers has rightly taken some heat in the media (as he should) as this doesn’t look good for him as far as his loyalty and word is concerned.
If you look a bit deeper into the story, there is much more at play than a high-profile coach who wants to avoid a rebuild and skip town. Several underlying factors, encompassing the past several years are involved. Before you accuse me of getting Rivers a free pass, I’ll note we haven’t been afraid to criticize Rivers in the past here at CelticsHub for anything from a stale predictable offense to questionable rotation decisions.
This Clippers flirtation, however, is a situation in which I’m prepared to defend Doc Rivers, not attack him. There is plenty of blame to be passed around for the handling of the situation.
Rivers should not be absolved from it entirely, but if you are looking for a person deserving of the lion’s share of the blame for how this ordeal has played out, look no further than the president of basketball operations.
The blame deserves to lie with Danny Ainge. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by Brian Robb on Jun 16, 2013
Although things remained quiet as one might expect on a Father’s Day in regards to the potential blockbuster of Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett heading to Los Angeles, the trade talks are far from a dead issue.
A resolution in one way or another will be figured out in the next couple days as both sides try to solidify their offseason plans.
Earlier today, I joined Murray and Trupiano on 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston to discuss a variety of issues surrounding the deal. Is Doc Rivers to blame for wanting to leave town? What’s a fair return for the Celtics even if he does leave? I broke it down with the guys.
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Posted by Brian Robb on Jun 16, 2013
After a rollercoaster ride Saturday afternoon, when it appeared a trade of Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett could be closer than ever, things remain quiet on the trade front this morning, as trade talks have understandably stalled between Danny Ainge and whoever is running the Clippers.
Here’s the latest from Marc Stein and Ramona Shelbourne at ESPN.com
Sources told ESPN.com that the Celtics will not consent to allow Rivers out of the final three years and $21 million on his contract unless they receive both Bledsoe and Clippers centerDeAndre Jordan in a corresponding trade for Boston’s Kevin Garnett, along with at least one future first-round pick as compensation for Rivers.
Yet sources say that the Clippers continue to tell Boston that they will not include Bledsoe in the proposed trade for Garnett, largely because they are determined to keep Chris Paul‘s backup to headline a separate down-the-road trade once they’re certain that Paul has committed his long-term future to L.A.
The viability of the trade scenario featuring Rivers and Garnett thus hinges on either the Celtics or the Clippers relenting in the next day or two. Boston is also said to be insisting that the Clippers absorb the contract of either Jason Terry or Courtney Lee to clinch the deal.
The biggest element we have going on here, is the one involving the timing of any deal that comes together. Read the rest of this entry »
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