The point he was trying to make, is that he won't have to sit out two years like the provision allows. If it is widely known through the "back channels" of the NBA that he would be willing to sit out 2 years so that he can play for the Celtics, do you think any GM in the league would touch him with a 10' pole in the 1st round knowing they will never sign him? I don't think so. I'm actually surprised someone hasn't done this already to get on a certain team.
This is all under the impression that the provision is being interpreted correctly.
Why wouldn't a team blow a late 2nd on him? I can't see him going undrafted.
If this crazy scenario played out, wouldn't we take him in the 1st round?
This. It's an interesting theoretical exercise to think through the agreements, but it would never happen because the C's would just draft him when their turn came up.
The only way I see Austin Rivers here, at least initially... assume that he plays two years at Duke. That'd get him drafted in the summer of 2013. The C's are going to have a lot of talented players retiring between now and 2013; by the 2012-2013 season, we're looking at the team being Rondo, an aging Pierce, and probably not much else. They'll likely be in full-rebuild mode at that point.
Now, Rondo's good enough at this point (I think) where he's probably good for 25-30 wins with NO talent around him. Maybe not, though, if there's no one around to finish those open shots. Or maybe he gets hurt... or maybe we just get lucky, don't make the playoffs and get lucky in the lotto (gotta happen one of these times, right?)
Assuming no lockout, we're not going to be in a position for a lotto pick in 2011 or probably in 2012. 2013, though... if Rondo's out for any length of time, it could be just like when the Spurs lost David Robinson and we able to steal Timmy Duncan away from us.
Side note; everything Doc has ever said seemed to indicate that he didn't WANT to coach Austin, that he valued being Austin's father too much to make that complication. Don't think he's ever really been Austin's coach at any point in his life. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if Doc deliberately tries to *not* be his son's coach, so that he can enjoy his success purely as a father.