
Could Doc Rivers (left) and Kevin Garnett be Los Angeles-bound? (Steve Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
UPDATE (12:05 p.m. ET): According to multiple reports, the Celtics and Clippers are revisiting negotiations Tuesday after talks hit an impasse Monday evening.
Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reports that a deal now hinges on the Clippers’ willingness to surrender two first-round draft picks in addition to DeAndre Jordan. According to Woj, the Celtics have relented on their demand that the Clippers take back long-term contracts (either Courtney Lee or Jason Terry), but want two first-rounders in addition to Jordan in a deal that would include Kevin Garnett and, separately, Doc Rivers.
ESPN.com’s Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne note a deal still has legs after “substantive discussions” Monday. One element of negotiations, Stein and Shelburne say, is negotiations between Rivers and the Clippers on a contract. Rivers currently makes around $7M a season and is reportedly looking to earn a similar amount if he moves from Boston to Los Angeles. “Numerous sources connected to talks continued to express optimism Monday that the Celtics and Clippers will eventually agree to terms this week,” the report notes.
An NBA team can’t formally trade away its coach, but the Celtics are nearing the functional equivalent during their extended trade talks with the Clippers. The discussions began in two distinct threads:
• L.A. has an established interest in acquiring Kevin Garnett, dating back to the February trade deadline. Given the way that both the Clippers and Celtics exited the playoffs prematurely, it’s only natural that they might revisit their trade talks.
• Last week, it was reported that Doc Rivers and the Clippers would have a mutual interest should Rivers be released from his contract with the Celtics — an event that seems increasingly likely as Boston changes directions and aims to rebuild.
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