2013 NBA

Los Angeles, CA

Glenn "Doc" Rivers' contract to be the head coach and senior vice president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Clippers has been approved by the NBA.

The process had the Celtics eventually working an agreement to buy out the final three years and $21 million left on Rivers' contract, which are the same terms he agreed with to coach the Clippers.

Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge didn't think the deal that would ever get done until the two teams agreed to compensation on Sunday.

He agreed to examine the possibility of Rivers joining the Celtics if it netted Boston enough compensation.

Ainge dismissed other potential suitors, which included the Nets and Nuggets, but agreed to talk to the Clippers with the understanding that if no deal could be reached, Rivers would return to Boston.

Rivers had been the second-longest tenured coach in the league behind San Antonio Spurs' Greg Popovich and was 416-305 in nine seasons with the Celtics, which he led to the 2008 NBA crown and 2010 Finals.

But according to Ainge, Rivers felt he needed a change.

Rivers played for the Clippers in 1991-92 and will now be its 16th coach.

He replaces Vinny Del Negro, who guided the Clippers to their best season in 2012-13, winning 56 games and the Pacific Division title before falling to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.

 

 

 

SPORTS

BASEBALL | BASKETBALL | COLLEGES | FOOTBALL | GOLF | HOCKEY | OLYMPICS | SOCCER | TENNIS

 

 

Doc Rivers Gets Fresh Start as Clippers Coach