Bleacher Report - Kevin Garnett

Will Kevin Garnett Spurn Rebuilding Boston Celtics, Retire Before Next Season?

Dan Favale — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:05:49 -0400

Kevin Garnett tried to flee the Boston Celtics to no avail, so he now has a decision to make. Does he endure the next year or two of an extensive rebuild or walk away from the NBA entirely?

Once Baxter Holmes of The Boston Globe reported that trades talks between the Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers were dead, Garnett was instantly (and finally) thrust head-first into the transactional mayhem that was being waged from coast-to-coast.

Never mind believing that Garnett was innocent in all this. He's guilty as charged, the charge being passive, yet not-so-passive compliance.

Notice how he hasn't publicly come out and said anything. Absolutely nothing. No matter though, he doesn't need to. His silence is deafening.

Like Doc Rivers, Garnett wants out of Boston.

Memories from the last half-decade plus will be experiences he holds dear to his heart for the rest of his life. The championship in 2008, the NBA Finals loss in 2010 and the near upset of the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals one year ago, he'll remember it all.

The problem is those experiences with the Celtics are now mementos of Garnett's past, remnants of a team that was. Those Celtics no longer exist; their goals are no longer attainable.

Some maimed version of the team could have still been fielded next season, the operative word here being "could." Boston was always one Danny-Ainge-change-of-heart away from giving it another go with Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Rivers.

Had Ainge not made it clear he would rather rebuild, things would have been different. Those Los Angeles rumors wouldn't have surfaced and Boston would have gone about business as usual.

Instead, Ainge decided it was time to do what he should have probably done earlier and begin a complex reclamation project. At the very least, he was more than open to starting from scratch. We have to believe that much. Rivers wouldn't have attempted to escape a city that became family over the last nine years if Ainge was hell-bent or even slightly amenable to giving this group another year, another chance.

So Garnett tried to leave via Rivers, suggesting that he still has plenty of basketball left in those veins of his, precious energy he would prefer not to expend with the Celtics.

That's where we're at: Garnett wants to return. He would have either been sipping mai-tais by the beach or taken the Jason Kidd route by lobbying to become the next head coach of the Clippers if he didn't. Had he wanted to retire, he would have retired.

He wants to continue to playing—with strings attached.

Simply playing just to play isn't on the 37-year-old's bucket list. Contention is what he's after 18 years into his professional career. Consenting to remain in Boston entails sacrificing his body and ambitions for a team that is unfit to take him where he wants to go.

Our carousel of thinking brings us back to retirement, the ultimate exit.

Walking away from the Celtics in conjunction with the league permits Garnett to leave with dignity. That was the whole point of this Clippers ordeal, was it not?

If the trigger had been pulled, Garnett would have left Boston involuntarily. Waiving his no-trade clause would have been explained as him submitting to the will of the Celtics.

Doc wanted him in Los Angeles, the Clippers wanted him in Los Angeles and the Celtics wanted him out of Boston for financial reasons. The NBA is a business. Sometimes it gets ugly and concessions need to be made.

That's how Garnett's decision would have been slung. Like he was was collateral damage or a victim of too many moving parts.

Some would have known better, understanding that his current lack of transparency couldn't be easier to see through if he were wrapped in cellophane. Others would be blinded by the things he had done, arguing that he deserved to play for a championship-caliber outfit.

Either lens you see it through is fine, so long as you know Garnett indeed wanted out. And for awhile, Doc, the Celtics and the Clippers seemed prepared to give him that out.

Then kaboom. Everything blew up once Donald Sterling realized money would be coming out of his pocket and Ainge got too greedy for Hollywood's taste.

Now there's only one immediate way out—retirement.

Forget about Garnett finishing out his contract or coming back for one more year with the Celtics. It's doubtful he can return to Boston after this, even if Rivers does.

If he did, all wouldn't be forgotten. Though he specifically wasn't portrayed as someone who was trying to leave, he tried to leave. Barring a blockbuster trade that suddenly makes the Celtics overwhelming contenders, there's no coming back from here.

There's no use believing Garnett is prepared to force his hand any further either. He wouldn't go near the mess that comes with a publicly coerced escape at this stage of his career with a 50-foot pole.

Recovering from the Minnesota Timberwolves debacle was possible; it was easy. Garnett was in his prime, capable of having an impact on a team that would culminate in a title. People tend to forget about an impure past when championships are being contended for and a title is being won.

Wherever Garnett goes next, there would still be a championship to be won. He wouldn't leave Boston if there wasn't. His window in which to win one won't be as wide open as it was when he left Minny, though. He had six years (and counting) left to contend. Now he has like two.

Which made Los Angeles the perfect situation.

Maybe he would have won a title, maybe he wouldn't have (go with wouldn't). With the Clippers it wouldn't have mattered because he would have left under the pretense that he decided to surrender to Boston's desire to rebuild without him. Who cares if the public didn't buy it as long as he could say it?

Similar luxuries aren't available to Garnett now. If he leaves Boston, it will be on his own accord; because he forced his way to another team or, more likely, retired. The latter is easier for his legacy as both a player and a Celtic.

There's always alternatives, of course. Garnett could return to the Celtics and play on, hoping his charismatic fearlessness and Hall of Fame credentials will win over the Boston faithful. That could still happen.

But it just wouldn't be the same.

Never again would he be the unadulterated savior the city believed him to be. Never again would he be beyond reproach. Everything would be different.

Assuming a carbon-copy to that of what almost went down between the Clippers and Celtics doesn't present itself, Garnett may return to Boston in an effort to sort through the chaos help. Or he might retire, going out as a Celtic just like he originally planned before there were any strings attached.

Put in that context, it's easy to understand Garnett has reached the point of no return, and that he's more likely to retire and salvage what's left of a deteriorating union than play another minute for the transitioning Celtics.

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How Doc Rivers' Exit from Celtics Would Define Boston's Future

Adam Fromal — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:39:14 -0400

We've almost officially reached the point of no return for Doc Rivers and the Boston Celtics.

After the mega-trade between the C's and the Los Angeles Clippers failed to come to fruition, Rivers is technically still a member of the Boston organization, but it sure doesn't feel like it. How can he realistically be expected to just step back onto the sidelines of TD Garden and pretend like nothing happened?

According to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, general manager Danny Ainge reached out to the indecisive head coach after the deal fell through, but they didn't reach any conclusion:

After talks in a blockbuster deal fell apart over draft pick compensation, Doc Rivers is unsure about returning to the Boston Celtics as coach, league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Tuesday.

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge informed Rivers of the failed trade talks on Tuesday morning, and reiterated the Celtics' desire to have him return and fulfill the final three years and $21 million left on his contract, sources said.

The Celtics and Rivers planned to reach a final resolution in the next few days, sources said.

I can't even begin to imagine how that conversation went.

Did Ainge open with, "So...uh...Doc. We were trying to trade you, and it didn't work. So...now we want you back? Yeah, we want you back!"

It's a little late in the process for that kind of backtracking.

There's one more relevant quote from that Wojnarowski article:

Rivers pushed for the Clippers partnership because of his desire to bypass a rebuilding process with Boston. As one source tied to Boston ownership and Rivers said, "You don't just move on from this and act like nothing happened."

Nothing happened, but at the same time, a lot certainly happened. Boston did just about everything in its power to burn the bridge between Rivers and the C's organization. It's tough enough to place a player on the trading block and expect him to return with nothing but a smile after no offers come flowing in. It's tougher still to do the same with a coach who was already considering a potential departure.

Following this saga, Rivers would be well within his rights to respond to Ainge's overture with a simple YouTube link to this song:

The damage is done, so I guess he'll be leaving. The Celtics don't have to say what they did, because Rivers already knows. Now there's just no chance for him and them.

There never will be.

Let's assume that Rivers exits Boston this offseason, leaving the C's scrambling for a new head coach. What does that mean for the future of this organization?

Doc Rivers' Future

Even if Rivers doesn't return to the same sideline he's paced throughout recent memory, he'll be able to take his froggy voice back into the broadcasting booth. That's not a bad backup option, and Rivers was quite good in 2004 when he served as a commentator for NBA on ABC.

Because the head coach has multiple years left on his contract, he can't simply walk away and then join another team in the NBA. He's contractually bound to the Celtics, and he can't break that bond without Ainge's permission.

Whether Rivers desires a managerial role or another coaching job in the Association, Boston will demand that it receive something in return from his new landing spot. Obviously that didn't work out so well with the Clippers, and it's unlikely that many other teams will be willing to match the Celtics' inevitably high asking price.

Now that L.A. has fallen out of the picture, it looks like it's either the booth or the Garden for Rivers. Neither is a bad option, but the former is looking more and more likely as this drama continues to press on.

Remember, we're operating under the assumption that Rivers has exited the organization here. So with only one other choice available, let's go ahead and make another assumption: that he winds up working for a TV station.

Kevin Garnett's Future

Kevin Garnett and Rivers have formed one of the tightest relationships in recent NBA history. Many coaches and players have created unbreakable bonds, especially after winning a championship together, but these two take it to an extreme.

That much was clear when they embraced on the sideline after a defeat at the hands of the New York Knicks ushered in the possibility that they'd worked together for the final time. It was more than a simple hug; it was a tacit declaration of mutual respect and admiration, as made clear by Wojnarowski:

Kevin Garnett changed Doc Rivers' life, changed forever the way people will remember him as a basketball coach. Rivers is a champion now, a paragon of his profession and there's never been a day on the job he hasn't understood that Garnett made it possible. This is the reason the tears welled within his eyes beneath that 17th championship banner in the Garden on Friday night, the reason that he squeezed Garnett on the sideline in the final seconds.

Deep down, Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett understood this was goodbye.

Deep down, they know it is over.

"I love you," Rivers told Garnett.

"I love you," Garnett told Rivers.

Rivers is one of the major reasons that the Big Ticket ever came to Beantown, and now that he's hovering on the brink of retirement, the coach's departure could very well lead to his own. Without a perennially hoarse voice yelling at him from the sideline, Garnett doesn't have much of a reason to stay with the Celtics.

Remember, we're assuming that Rivers is gone here. If that's the case, we can safely bet on KG departing too.

Garnett still has time left on his contract, but he could bypass that in one of two manners: He could either choose to retire and pull the plug on his Hall of Fame career, or he could ask Ainge to buy out his contract and allow him to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent.

Based on his play, the latter seems more likely. Garnett still has some quality basketball left in the tank, as the New York Knicks found out during the postseason. The big man averaged 12.7 points, a playoff-high 13.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game with a 17.3 PER, according to Basketball-Reference.com.

That doesn't sound like a man ready to hang up the sneakers and walk off into the sunset. Not that KG would walk; he'd probably run and protect any baskets along the way.

It's too early to speculate about where he'd end up, but one thing is certain: If Rivers is gone, so too is Garnett.

Paul Pierce's Future

Let's take it one step further.

If Rivers is gone, then Garnett will be washed right out the door by the current. Along with him will go Paul Pierce.

Initially, the process was supposed to happen the other way, with the Pierce decision ushering in the other moves. But now, the flow seems like it may be reversed.

KG and Pierce have been friends for much longer than the six years they've spent in the same jersey, and "The Truth" was one of the main reasons Garnett decided to join the Celtics, as he made clear in an interview with WEEI's Mike Petraglia:

Garnett made it very clear that his decision about next year will hinge greatly on whether Ainge brings back Pierce.

“One of the big reasons I came [to Celtics] was because of Paul,” said Garnett. “Obviously, you want to be in a situation where it’s better. I want to make sure that I’m able to always help a team. I want to be in positions to where I’m giving something. I demand a lot of myself, both physically and from a skill level. But I’d be lying to y’all if I said Paul didn’t play into that factor. Like I said, it’s too soon of a conversation for me right now.”

Pierce, much like Garnett, could have his contract bought out, and it's seemed for a while now like that's the most likely scenario. For the hefty sum of $5 million, Ainge could cut ties with the franchise's longtime superstar, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.

My guess has been that Pierce will end up on the Clippers, but recent events have caused me to treat anything that involves both the Celtics and the Clippers with a heavy dose of cynicism.

Regardless, Rivers leaving the organization would also cause Pierce to walk out the door. He doesn't want to be left alone, without his coach or his friend and fellow star there beside him. Rajon Rondo, talented point guard that he may be, isn't going to sway him in Boston's favor.

Who Becomes the Next Coach?

There are a number of excellent coaches out on the market, and one of the big names will almost certainly replace Rivers in this hypothetical situation.

George Karl, Lionel Hollins and Brian Shaw are the leading candidates, and it's Shaw that should emerge as the front-runner. According to the Boston Globe's Baxter Holmes, this is already happening:

Shaw, the coaching candidate who seems to have been rumored to go to virtually every team in the Association, would be a terrific fit for the Celtics. Originally drafted by Boston, the longtime assistant is ready to step up and take on the top coaching position out there. He's learned under the greats and has a championship pedigree.

More than anything else, though, Shaw is known for his ability to help develop players.

He morphed Andrew Bynum from a potential-filled enigma into a paint-residing anchor on a championship-winning team. Then he helped Paul George blossom into an All-Star who could go toe-to-toe with LeBron James. These aren't coincidences; Shaw is a legitimate developer of talent.

As long as he doesn't try to neutralize Rondo's many talents by running the triangle offense, he'd be the perfect man to help shape Avery Bradley, Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo and whichever other young players the team brings in.

Without Rivers, Pierce and KG, Boston is inevitably entering into a bit of a rebuilding period. It may be a full rebuild or a mini one, but developing young talent is still absolutely crucial to the organization's long-term success.

Where Does the Team Go from Here?

With three faces of the franchise departed, this squad belongs almost solely to Rajon Rondo. He's the talent the team must build around, so it's a good thing he's an MVP-caliber player when he puts it all together.

The problem is, even without Pierce and Garnett's hefty contracts on the books, Boston doesn't have the financial flexibility to retool this offseason.

Let's say that Ainge chooses to pick up the team options on Shavlik Randolph, D.J. White and Terrence Williams. Then Pierce's contract gets bought out and KG retires, thereby completely wiping his salary off the books. Additionally, the C's use their No. 16 draft pick and owe that rookie $1,348,200.

All together, Boston would be paying out $59,600,829. Even after using the stretch provision, Ainge would inevitably be left filling up the roster with players signed via the mid-level exception and minimum deals. Sign-and-trades could also work, but the general manager still couldn't bring in any big players.

There just isn't enough money to reel in the marquee names, so it appears likely that the C's will enter the season featuring Rondo, Jeff Green, Sullinger, Bradley and Brandon Bass as their primary players.

It would make for a rough season—by Boston standards—but it also open things up down the road. Ainge will have money to spend in 2014 if he's patient and doesn't blow the cap space on this season; it's far more beneficial for him to just bide his time.

Things don't look pretty in Boston if Pierce, KG and Rivers all leave, but it wouldn't stay that way for long.

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Celtics, Clippers End Blockbuster Trade Talks Around Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett

Donald Wood — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:20:19 -0400

The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers have broken off trade talks that would have reportedly sent Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett to the West Coast after the two sides were unable to agree on proper compensation, according to Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe:

CBS insider Ken Berger is reporting that it was Los Angeles that pulled out of the deal:

Yahoo! Sports NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski revealed some specifics about why the deal faltered:

This likely ends the chances that Boston deals Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles for now, but the fact that both sides were already approaching a deal means the interest could still be there this offseason.

USA Today’s Sam Amick is skeptical that this is the end of this proposed deal:

The problem for the Celtics now is that the team already tried to move Rivers and Garnett, so repairing that relationship may not be easy. While Wojnarowski is reporting that Boston general manager Danny Ainge wants Rivers back as the team’s head coach, there is a chance the trade talks have frayed the relationship, as Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix reports:

Wojnarowski is also reporting the longtime Boston head coach may not want to stay:

After talks in a blockbuster deal fall apart over draft pick compensation, Doc Rivers is unsure about returning to the Boston Celtics as coach, league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Tuesday. ... The Clippers informed the Celtics on Tuesday morning that they were unwilling to meet Ainge's price to complete the deal. There were no discussions about discussing other ways to complete the deal, sources said.

Rivers still has three years on his current contract with the Celtics—$7 million per year—and with his willingness to leave the franchise, there are serious questions of whether or not he should return to the team next season.

Garnett signed a three-year extension in July of 2012, but with trade talks boiling and his name at the center of this potential deal, the possibility that the future Hall of Famer could consider retirement grows with every failed proposal.

Boston must figure out what the future holds for Rivers and Garnett before the situation gets ugly.

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Why LA Clippers Must Stay Away From Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett

Tom Ciampoli — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:10:37 -0400

The Los Angeles Clippers are a playoff team with talent in place that believes they can contend for a championship right now. But after the firing of coach Vinny Del Negro following a disappointing first-round exit in the NBA playoffs, the Clippers are, according to some sources, on the verge of doing something rarely seen in sports: trading for a new head coach. And they're looking at a coach who has already won a ring: Doc Rivers.

After previously telling sources that he would be returning to Boston's bench next season "until he says he's not", Rivers essentially declined to comment when asked by the Boston Globe if he was still making his decision. That was a week ago, and now Boston is feeling the heat with rumors of a separate Clipper trade involving Clips star Blake Griffin and point guard Eric Bledsoe in exchange for Lakers center Dwight Howard. ESPN's (and unrepentant Celts fan) Bill Simmons had this to say on the Rivers situation:

Just so we're clear: Doc Brown has a better chance of coaching the Celtics next year than Doc Rivers does. Clips deal or bust.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) June 17, 2013

There are a couple reasons why the Clippers should not go through with this trade. First and foremost, Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Clips would have to give up two first-round picks and current starting center DeAndre Jordan to get Rivers and Garnett. It seems silly for a team built around young talent to give up one of their foremost young leaders (Jordan) for an undersized center who is likely on his last legs (Garnett).

KG is on his way down, production-wise, scoring one less point per game than he did last year (15.8 to 14.8) and fewer rebounds as well (8.2 in 2011-12, 7.8 this past season). At 37, Garnett's numbers are not likely to suddenly increase again.

Jordan, meanwhile, has been the Clippers' anchor down low, averaging 7.2 rebounds a game alongside frontcourt mate Griffin and improving his PPG totals from last year's 7.4 to 8.8 in 2012-13. In addition, Jordan led the league in field goal percentage this season, making a staggering 64.3% of his shots. The next closest in that category? Dwight Howard, who came in a distant second with a 57.8 percentage.

The young big man is also durable, and hasn't missed a single game in over two seasons. We've seen Garnett's glory days come and go by this point, but when it comes to Jordan, still just 24, the best is clearly yet to come:

In addition, "Doc" surely has a broadcasting career waiting for him when he does decide to either take a season off or give up coaching altogether. Several sources, including SLAM Magazine and the Huffington Post, have already stated that Rivers has drawn interest from multiple stations looking for on-air talent.

Forget for a second whether or not Rivers, who has just been leading one of the older teams in the league for the past few seasons, will be able to transition to coaching the Clips, who are one of the youngest teams in the NBA. If Rivers knows he has a cushy, pressure-free job in the broadcast booth waiting in the wings, will that same fire and intensity he brought to Beantown still be there?

The Clippers ran straight into the buzzsaw that was this year's Memphis Grizzlies in the playoffs, but they shouldn't panic and make a move they don't need to make for a player and coach who could both be very well past their primes. L.A. is currently the team to beat right now in the City of Angels, and should be looking with hope towards the future, not trying to wring what they still can out of the past.

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Clippers, Celtics End Trade Talks Surrounding Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers

Alex Kay — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:32:43 -0400

The Los Angeles Clippers have been in talks to acquire Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers from the Boston Celtics, but the negotiations that began last week appear to have reached an impasse.

UPDATE: Tuesday, June 18, at 12:05 p.m. ET by Sam Westmoreland

Just as quickly as things appeared to be heating up, the trade talks surrounding Garnett and Rivers have been reported as dead, according to reports from the Los Angeles Times' Brad Turner.

Sam Amick of USA Today is also reporting that negotiations have stalled, but expressed some skepticism that the discussions are officially over.

Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com added more details behind the dissolution of talks.

The teams have no plans to speak again, the sources said, and the Clippers are preparing to move on and hire a coach this week.

The talks broke down Tuesday morning when the Clippers "refused to budge" on Boston's latest proposal that asked for DeAndre Jordan, straight up for Garnett, and two first-round draft picks as compensation for allowing Rivers out of the final three-years and $21 million of his contract.

Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe talked to Celtics GM Danny Ainge, who confirmed that talks had died.

Ainge also told Holmes that nothing has changed in regards to the franchise's stance on Rivers as its head coach.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the deal died when the Clippers couldn't meet the financial obligations to get the deal done.

---End of update---

Negotiations will continue Tuesday, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski:

Wojnarowski found that the Celtics have apparently backed away from their request for the Clippers to absorb multiple long-term contracts and are allegedly willing to pull the trigger on this trade for two first-round picks and center DeAndre Jordan.

As per ESPN’s Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne, L.A. is willing to take on at least one bad contract—either Courtney Lee’s or Jason Terry’s—but not both.

The Clips are reluctant to part with more than one draft pick in exchange for the 37-year-old big man and head coach, as they are trying to retain as many pieces as possible for a future deal.

No longer in pursuit of emerging young guard Eric Bledsoe, it seems the Celtics are just trying to acquire as many young assets and shed as much salary as possible in this deal.

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge was reportedly originally seeking Bledsoe, center Jordan and two first-round draft picks in exchange for Garnett and Rivers, but the Clippers balked at the price.

Shelburne and Stein noted that the Clips would prefer to do two separate deals, one with KG heading to L.A. for Jordan, and another with Rivers joining for a first-round pick.

However, Boston is insistent that it either receives two first-round picks or sheds salary via dumping Lee’s three-year, $14.4 million deal, Terry’s two-year, $11 million contract or possibly both.

At this point in negotiations, it seems imperative for both sides that an agreement is reached. Should things fall apart in these late stages, there could be significant negative ramifications for each team.

It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Rivers would return to the Celtics. The coach is due $7 million per year over the next three seasons, and he has spurned his players by trying to get out of his current obligations.

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix had a telling observation:

Rivers could return to broadcasting if he isn’t traded to L.A., as there’s little chance the C’s would pay him to oversee a rebuilding effort.

The Big Ticket may opt to retire, which is something he mulled last summer before signing a three-year extension in July. Without the coach he spent the last six years under, the future Hall of Famer and 2008 NBA champion could choose to hang up his sneakers.

For the Clippers, a failure to secure Rivers could set off a chain reaction that forces Chris Paul to spurn the franchise in free agency. As of now, there are still a number of respectable options on the open market, but each could easily be snapped up if the trade is delayed any longer.

Losing CP3 would greatly set the up-and-coming franchise back and likely see it fade back into irrelevance.

It’s clear that both parties need to get this done, so expect another day of heavy negotiations to conclude with more progress made and a possible finalization of this transaction.

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Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles Would Make Clippers Western Conference Favorites

Benjamin Klein — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:20:20 -0400

The Los Angeles Clippers need one more star in order become Western Conference favorites, and the player that would push them over the hump is Kevin Garnett.

Chris Paul and Blake Griffin—along with the Clippers' role players—clearly aren’t getting the job done. Two years ago, the Clippers lost in the West Semifinals. This season, Los Angeles won 56 games and was ousted from the playoffs in the first round.

Los Angeles didn’t feel that Vinny Del Negro was the coach who could help the team make a deep run into the playoffs, so the Clippers nixed him. Now, the Clippers are seeking a coach with the potential to take the franchise to the NBA Finals and potentially win a championship.

But while the coaching search is well underway, Los Angeles still needs to address the talent on the roster. Paul, a free agent, is the first priority. Eric Bledsoe is good, but he isn’t the answer right now. Paul is an All Star who, with help, can help the Clippers win more than 55 games per season.

The Clippers are attempting to do what the Boston Celtics and, more recently, the Miami Heat have done: combine three stars and let them go to work. Boston had Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, and they won a championship. Miami has LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, and they won a championship—and might win another this year.

Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles tweeted that the Clippers are on the lookout for that third star and have a couple of names in mind:

The big name on the rumor mill lately, though, is Garnett, who could end up in Los Angeles very soon. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Celtics and Clippers are discussing a deal that would send Garnett and head coach Doc Rivers to Los Angeles. He also reports that Garnett would waive his no-trade clause.

Acquiring a big-name coach like Rivers while also adding a star like Garnett “will lock up the re-signing of free agent superstar Chris Paul,” writes Wojnarowski.

If the deal gets done, the Clippers would have their own version of a Big 3, which would include Paul, Griffin and Garnett. On paper, that sounds very good. The Clippers would still need to have a solid shooting guard and small forward, but in general, Los Angeles would become an even more dangerous franchise.

Player	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PER
Blake Griffin	32.5	18.0	8.3	3.7	1.2	0.6	22.4
Chris Paul	33.4	16.9	3.7	9.7	2.4	0.1	26.4
Kevin Garnett	29.7	14.8	7.8	2.3	1.1	0.9	19.2
*Statistics provided by Basketball-Reference.

The trio would have the potential to score around 50 points per night while dominating the glass and playing stellar defense.

By re-signing Paul and acquiring Garnett, the Clippers could easily have the top team in the Western Conference. The Oklahoma City Thunder are very talented, but several teams have figured out how to beat them. The San Antonio Spurs might end up winning the title this year, but their time is quickly running out.

Outside of those two teams, who else stands in the way of the Clippers?

No one.

By completing this rumored deal and then re-signing Paul, the Clippers would have a formidable collection of players capable of taking Los Angeles further than it’s ever gone. The Clippers have never made an appearance in the NBA Finals. With Griffin, Paul and Garnett, the chances of that happening in 2013-14 skyrocket.

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NBA Trade Rumors: Clippers Would Be Wise to Stay Away from Boston Celtics Deal

Pete Schauer — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0400

As the rumors continue to swirl surrounding a deal between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers, it's becoming clear that this is a move the Clips should want no part in.

According to multiple reports, including an article from ESPN's Tom Carpenter (Insider access required), Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett could be on their way to the West Coast with Los Angeles sending DeAndre Jordan and some first-round picks to Boston.

This deal doesn't make sense for multiple reasons.

For one, the Clippers would be letting go of a 24-year-old center with potential for an aging 37-year-old center who has more than enough miles on his body already.

Sure, Jordan isn't the most efficient offensive player, but Blake Griffin, Chris Paul (assuming he stays) and Jamal Crawford provide enough offense. L.A. needs Jordan for his interior defense and work on the boards.

Garnett is as fierce a competitor as anyone that's ever stepped foot on the court, but he's got two or maybe three seasons left in the tank, whereas Jordan is still a couple of seasons away from hitting his prime.

I'm all for the Clippers targeting Rivers to fill the vacant head coaching position, but not at the expense of Jordan and more than one first-round pick for Los Angeles.

If the only way for the Clips to get Rivers is to also accept Garnett and deal Jordan and multiple first-round picks, I think L.A. should stand pat.

Let's not forget there are plenty of quality head coaches still out there looking for jobs—Lionel Hollins and Brian Shaw immediately come to mind.

The Clippers definitely need to make some notable moves this summer in order to keep Chris Paul happy, but this isn't the right route for L.A. The Clips are better off seeking a head coach elsewhere and letting the Celtics deal with their own issues.

Read more Kevin Garnett news on BleacherReport.com

Making the Call on Boston Celtics' 5 Toughest Offseason Decisions

Grant Rindner — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:11:44 -0400

With uncertainty looming around every corner, no NBA team is facing as many tough decisions as the Boston Celtics. With the exception of perhaps the Los Angeles Clippers, no team is realistically facing the prospect of losing its coach and veteran stars in one fell swoop.

As wild rumors swirl around the sports world, the mysterious picture of what the 2013-14 Celtics will look like has become no clearer than it was after Boston's disheartening loss in Game 6 against the New York Knicks.

None of these decisions are even remotely easy. Intelligent, rational arguments could be made for a number of different answers to how the Celtics should approach the draft, free agency and, of course, the future of the three people who were so instrumental in the overhaul that led to Boston's resurgence back in 2007.

The Finals are drawing to a close and, as Boston fans pass the time gritting their teeth and trying to figure out what Danny Ainge and company will do come the official offseason, let's look at some potential answers to the five most difficult questions facing the Celtics.

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Kevin Garnett Trade Rumors: Clippers Reportedly Eying Deal for Celtics Star

Ethan Grant — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 19:11:11 -0400

After six straight seasons of making the playoffs in the Doc Rivers, "Big Three" era that included an NBA title in 2008, it finally looks like rebuilding time for the Boston Celtics.

And it might start with a trade that's already been floated around in the 2013 calendar year.

According to an ESPN report from Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne, the Los Angeles Clippers are eying two separate deals that would shake up the framework of the NBA, and one of those deals would be bringing Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers to Los Angeles in exchange for a package that centers around DeAndre Jordan, cash and draft picks.

The other is a sign-and-trade deal for cross-locker room rival Dwight Howard, in which Blake Griffin and Eric Bledsoe would join the Lakers next year.

Here's an excerpt from the report:

The initial talks with Boston, sources said Saturday, are focused on the Clippers satisfying Boston's compensation demands to let Rivers out of his lucrative contract and corresponding trade proposals aimed at bringing Garnett to town with Rivers.

All of these potential transactions, sources say, are part of the Clippers' intent, as reported Thursday by ESPN.com, to be "very aggressive" and "shake every tree" in an attempt to upgrade the roster to the point that Paul not only re-signs when he becomes a free agent on July 1 but that they are an unquestioned championship contender.

The two sides were linked with a potential move of the same nature back in February, when Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald reported that CP3 was pushing Garnett to waive his no-trade clause and join the Clips.

That deal never came together, but it looks to have legs this time around.

The Clippers finished fourth in the Western Conference in the 2012-13 regular season before losing in the first round of the NBA playoffs to the Memphis Grizzlies. With Chris Paul entering free agency and the head coaching position still vacant after the team fired Vinny Del Negro, via the Los Angeles Times, there's changes still to be settled this offseason.

Changes are brewing in Boston, too.

ESPN's Chris Broussard reported on Wednesday, Rivers was mulling over whether or not his future would continue in Boston far before the details of this new development emerged.

The Clippers were an automatic candidate for Rivers to move to once that rumor hit airwaves, and this one from The Boston Globe also linked Rivers, the heart and soul of his defense and the Clippers together in a potential move:

If any such West Coast move for the duo of Rivers and Garnett was to become final, the C's would also likely use their one-time amnesty provision on Paul Pierce, a move that would save over $15 million in cap space heading into free agency.

Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld conjectured as much on Twitter:

There's a lot of moving parts and contingency plans for both sides in the scenarios mentioned above, but one thing is for certain—Boston's "Big Three" era could be coming to a close in the next few days.

Read more Kevin Garnett news on BleacherReport.com

What Would Package Deal of Rivers, Pierce and Garnett Look Like for LA Clippers?

Jesse Dorsey — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:40:43 -0400

As the Boston Celtics enter yet another offseason with rumors flying in every direction, it seems as if the Los Angeles Clippers are a possibility to finally help them tear down the remnants of what they once were.

As it stands, reports continue to arise that the Clippers are interested in a deal that would send Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and even Boston head coach Doc Rivers from the East Coast to the West Coast. Per Marc Stein of ESPN:

There's a rising belief around the NBA that Doc, KG & Pierce all want to carry on as a trio in Clipperland if they can't roll on in Boston
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 15, 2013

According to the Boston Herald, talks between the two teams have begun as mutual interest creeps up. It could be a long road ahead, but it's possible that a deal unfolds over the next few weeks, or even months.

So, what might a deal with the Clippers look like, and would the Celtics' sacrifice be worth the return?

First, let's take a look at the simpler part of the move: getting Pierce and Garnett to Los Angeles.

Pierce and Garnett

Perhaps most important of all, we know that Garnett would waive his no-trade clause if the Clippers and Celtics are able to get a deal down, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:

If Celtics and Clippers can finalize a deal that includes Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett will waive his no-trade clause, league sources tell Y!
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 15, 2013

A lot of this supposed deal would depend on how soon the Clippers expect to seriously contend for a title.

Los Angeles has to realize that any team surrounding Garnett and Pierce would be significantly weaker even a year or two into the future.

At the most, it seems L.A. would get two years of high-level play from Garnett and anywhere between two and four from Pierce.

The two could continue to play at a lower level for a few subsequent seasons, but it remains to be seen how the lessened pressure to score would impact their game.

Getting them to Los Angeles would mean the Clippers creating a deal around DeAndre Jordan and Eric Bledsoe, at the very least.

Beyond that, Los Angeles is likely going to have to add in Caron Butler and Willie Green in order to get salaries to match, although Jamal Crawford could be a possibility as well.

While it seems like trading either Pierce or Garnett straight up for Jordan, Bledsoe and Green—and then buying out the other player in order to take back fewer contracts—makes sense for Boston, it doesn't work under the current collective bargaining agreement .

A player who has his contract bought out still counts against his original team's salary cap, so they would not only be paying one of the two to become free agents, but they'd also have to endure the cap hit.

Boston using its amnesty provision on Pierce is also an option, but he wouldn't make it past the bidding process to become a free agent.

ESPN's Larry Coon and Arash Markazi detail how a trade would likely go down based on the CBA. Basically, it could be broken down into two separate trades—that way the Clippers could take back a larger percentage of salary, compared to one mega-deal.

The distinction they're making between before and after July 1 is based on the NBA free-agency period, which starts on that date. That means players would be under their 2013-14 season contracts after July 1 rather than 2012-13.

From Markazi:

That means the Clippers would go to the second option, which would be doing two separate trades. In this scenario, according to Coon, they get 150 percent or $5 million rather than just the 125 percent they get by acquiring them together. So they could trade Jordan and Bledsoe for Pierce and then Butler for Garnett. These two separate but parallel trades would work from a numbers standpoint.

If they wait until after July 1, they need to send out $22,133,656 if they wanted to trade for both together. Jordan and Butler add up to $18,986,550, so they'd need another $3,147,106. Bledsoe and Green would add up to enough.

Separately they'd need to send out $7,433,735 for Garnett, and Butler is still enough there, and they'd need to send out $10,155,556 for Pierce, and Jordan is enough but the Clippers would likely be forced to add Bledsoe as well.

Boston is in a strange situation, however, as one of the main pieces of the trade would be a guard.

With Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley at the center of the Celtics' rebuild, they might want to find another player to bring in besides Bledsoe.

That would likely mean a third team getting involved, which is a typical option when there are so many high-level players involved.

Doc Rivers

That brings us to trading the Celtics head coach, which is definitely an unusual situation. Unusual, but not unprecedented.

In 2007, the Miami Heat allowed Stan Van Gundy to leave and coach the Orlando Magic, but they requested two second-round picks in exchange.

Likewise, Miami gave the New York Knicks a first-round pick and a million bucks in order to avoid tampering charges when they signed Pat Riley.

Rivers has a "non-compete clause" in his contract that states he can't coach in the NBA again until his current contract is up, unless the Celtics give him permission to do so.

That gives Celtics president Danny Ainge a bit of leverage with Rivers. If the Clippers specifically want Rivers, Ainge could ask for a few draft picks in return.

In the end, if a deal goes down between the two teams, look for at least a future first-round pick to be included in order to release Rivers from his contract.

While any kind of contract is far from in place, talks between the two teams could definitely heat up over the next few weeks if the trade looks to be mutually beneficial.

Read more Kevin Garnett news on BleacherReport.com