Doc Rivers Would Take Clippers to Next Level as Head Coach

Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers could be a match made in heaven.

Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe reports that Rivers is considering leaving his head coaching position with the Boston Celtics, while the Clippers are still without a head coach following the firing of Vinny Del Negro.

All of this has led to reports that Rivers and the Clippers are showing mutual interest in each other, according to ESPN. 

"

Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers have mutual interest, sources say http://t.co/f2aQHNUEp7

— ESPN New York (@ESPNNewYork) June 13, 2013"

If Rivers were to make the move to the West Coast, he could be the key to elevating the Clippers to the next level in terms of franchise history and postseason success.

Los Angeles was bounced from the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs in six games by the Memphis Grizzlies—the same team it beat in the 2012 playoffs before being swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the conference semifinals.

Rivers, of course, led the Celtics to a title in 2008 and has coached Boston to the playoffs every season since then, with the Celtics only losing in the first round once during that span—this season.

Perhaps one of the biggest impacts Rivers could make to the Clippers would be the retaining of standout point guard Chris Paul.

Paul is an unrestricted free agent and could very well be on the move this summer, but one has to think that if Rivers jumps ship to L.A., Paul may re-think his decision to leave the Clippers. Rivers did an excellent job in the development of Rajon Rondo in Boston, and while Paul certainly doesn't need much work on his game, Rivers is a players' coach with a winning resume.

The Clippers have a strong nucleus with Paul and Blake Griffin, but what's been missing is an elite coach like Rivers.  

ESPN's Marc Stein reports that Los Angeles plans to be aggressive in providing a supporting cast for Paul and Griffin and that aggression should only grow if Rivers ends up becoming the head coach of the Clippers.

L.A. needs to make some big moves this summer to take the next step, and with Rivers expressing interest, the Clippers have to pull the trigger.

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