Clippers, Celtics call off deal for Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett
- Share via
The Clippers and Boston Celtics have called off a blockbuster deal Tuesday that centered around Coach Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett coming to Los Angeles, The Times has learned.
The final sticking point that stopped the deal was Boston president of basketball operations Danny Ainge insisting that Clippers vice president of basketball operations Gary Sacks give the Celtics two No. 1 draft picks along with DeAndre Jordan, said league officials who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Sacks was prepared to trade Jordan and one No. 1 pick for the rights to negotiate with Rivers and to acquire Garnett, but refused to add another first-round pick, the executives said.
The Clippers and Celtics started talks again early Tuesday morning, knowing that Eric Bledsoe wasn’t going to be in the deal, but were still unable to make a connection.
The Clippers now move on to having more conversations with Byron Scott and Brian Shaw, the executives said.
Scott, who interviewed for the Clippers’ head coaching vacancy last week, will meet Tuesday for the first time with owner Donald Sterling, the executives said.
Scott, who coached Chris Paul when both were with the New Orleans Hornets, is the former coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Hornets and New Jersey Nets.
Shaw, the associate head coach of the Indiana Pacers, also interviewed with the Clippers last week. Shaw, who is in Denver on Tuesday interviewing for the Nuggets’ job, will meet with Sterling on Wednesday, the executives said.
Former Memphis Grizzlies Coach Lionel Hollins, who will interview Wednesday for Denver’s job, remains in the mix with the Clippers. Hollins interviewed last week with the Clippers and he did meet with Sterling, the executives.
The Clippers hope to name a coach this week to replace Vinny Del Negro.
ALSO:
Celtics, Clippers at impasse in talks regarding Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers high on Clippers’ list, but Celtics remain roadblock
Clippers, Celtics still discussing Doc Rivers, but no deal in sight
twitter.com/BA_Turner
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
