Doc Rivers Denies Turning Down Carmelo Anthony Trade Involving Son Austin

Los Angeles Clippers coach and president of basketball operations Doc Rivers denied a report that said he turned down a trade that would have brought Carmelo Anthony to the team in exchange for his son, Austin Rivers.

In a quick interview with TMZ, Rivers said of the report, "That's not true." 

Michael Eaves of ESPN first made the claim on his Facebook account, writing, "New York offered Carmelo and Sasha Vujacic to the Clippers in exchange for Jamal Crawford, Paul Pierce and Austin Rivers, a deal to which Rivers ultimately said no."

Austin Rivers also took to Twitter to deny the allegations:

Eaves added that this led to a fallout between Rivers and Chris Paul, saying the point guard "despises" his now former head coach, per an unnamed league executive.

Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday for seven players and a draft pick, per ESPN. Despite the apparent hostility, Rivers seemed happy for the departed player.

"I wish Chris well," the coach said to TMZ, calling him "a great Clipper."

Paul had been with Los Angeles for six years, the last four with Rivers as his coach. Although the team won at least 50 games each season, it was never able to advance past the second round of the playoffs.

The Clippers lost in the first round in each of the last two years.