If there is a lockout and the season is delayed, that may very well be enough to allow Rivers to spend additional time with his family, and still return as the Celtics' head coach.
Danny Ainge, Boston's president of basketball operations, has had multiple talks with Rivers throughout this season about re-signing with the C's.
Rivers has been consistent, Ainge said, in wanting to put off his contract situation until the season is over.
"He would much rather the focus now be on the players and our goal, which is to win a championship," Ainge told CSNNE.com. "And not so much on his contract and his future."
But Ainge knows he wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't gauge Rivers' interest in returning, or making sure Rivers understands that he is still a coveted member of the Celtics family.
"Doc knows how I feel," said Ainge. "I'm doing all I can to keep Doc around for as long as possible."
And while a lockout will certainly not be in the best interest of the league, Ainge acknowledges that it may become a factor Rivers weighs in deciding whether to return.
"I don't believe Doc is necessarily looking forward to being a coaching free agent this summer," Ainge said. "I really do believe he'll be trying to decide whether to come back to Boston, or take some time off, maybe a year or two, and do some other things."
http://www.csnne.com/03/23/11/Ainge-Rivers-begin-talks-about-new-contr/landing_celtics.html?blockID=468169&feedID=3352Glad to hear this. I think Danny doing this definitely gives us more of a chance to retain Doc.
Oh and how about this dilema...
A shortened season that could lower the popularity of the NBA or a shortened season with the C's retaining Doc?
I'd go with option two in a heartbeat because I feel that if we do retain Doc in a shortened season it will be because we are trying to repeat and I believe the only way we'd be able to repeat (Ik still got a long long way to go to winning the tile this year) is with a shortened season.
Topic: Ainge, Rivers begin talks about new contract (Read 1361 times)