Speculating: So What Happened to Doc?

[PhoSita]

Just a year ago, Doc signed a 5 year extension.  At the time, he said all the right things about being committed to sticking with this team long term, including through the inevitable rebuild.  He claimed he wanted to be like Jerry Sloan or Greg Popovich.  Continuity.  Loyalty.  These were ideals to which he claimed to hold allegiance.

Directly after the Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs this season, Doc said some cryptic things in response to questions about whether he would come back, but at that time it still seemed like the chance of him walking away from the Celtics were remote.  If anything, I think most assumed that if Doc wasn't coaching the Celtics next season, he wouldn't be coaching anywhere.  Doc was all about the Celtics, and the only reason he wouldn't coach the Celtics is if he wanted to spend more time with his family.  Right?

Well, wrong.

Here we are 6 weeks or so after the Celtics were kicked out of the playoffs, and Doc Rivers is for all intents and purposes poised with a cannister of gasoline and a box of matches ready to burn all the bridges in place between him and the Celtics franchise, players, and fans.

What changed?  From what I've read it seems like Doc is intent on doing anything next year other than coaching the Celtics, despite the fact that he'd be the highest paid coach in the league -- again -- if he were to come back.

Is this about Danny Ainge?  Is it a matter of clashing philosophies?  Was this season just a completely draining and depressing experience for Doc (and perhaps others)?  I must admit that I didn't see this coming. 

The team being blown up is something I've advocated, and that it seems very likely to happen doesn't shock me.  But that Doc Rivers is at the center of the off-season drama is definitely unexpected for me.  This whole thing is playing out as if Danny Ainge and Doc had some massive falling out that completely changed Doc's mind about what he wanted to do next season.

[LooseCannon]

My speculation is that perhaps Doc could accept trading Pierce, but the one thing he didn't want was for Pierce to be waived just to save money.  So, I suspect that Ainge is leaning towards doing that if he can't make a trade by June 30.

[celticinorlando]

Doc wanted KG and PP back with a healthy rondo..Ainge probably said they are gone

this is a highly flawed roster right now..lee, terry and crawford are all about the same player..

no real back up PG

never got a legit center, no real size at all

[Who]

He copped on and realized a coach of his pedigree and reputation could get a job on a title contender whenever he wanted and that that was far more of interest to him than suffering through a rebuilding process.

Losing isn't fun.

[PhoSita]

He copped on and realized a coach of his pedigree and reputation could get a job on a title contender whenever he wanted and that that was far more of interest to him than suffering through a rebuilding process.

Losing isn't fun.

You may be right.  Maybe it is that simple.  I guess that's just hard to swallow because I'd like to assume Doc Rivers isn't quite that cold and calculating.  That he actually felt some kind of attachment to this franchise.

But maybe it just dawned on him, hey, I've had the best time of my life coaching a really good team these past 5 years.  Why would I want to go back to the basement?  I can go wherever I want.

[kgainez]

I like all the reasons given here.

I think firstly that Danny is going a direction that Doc doesn't like. That's why he did all that holding out. We know that Doc takes his time to re-think the season and discuss what he wants to do. But it was all too weird this time with him -- way too many murmurs this time around.

I think it came to a head and Doc and Danny came up with a plan for an out, mainly because of Doc's reputation as a championship coach. I think Doc and Danny thought this was a good way -- Doc, KG and PP get to ring chase essentially (reloading by going to another team) and Danny gets the pieces he needs to rebuild.

In the process with the Clips, certain things got leaked, on purpose and I'm not sure who chose what to leak. I think most of it was purposeful. Doc's rep got a bit of a stain on it, so now if he does leave the Cs other teams will think twice on him...I have to believe the Clips leaked the stuff about Doc wanting Bledsoe.

At any rate, I think Doc sucks. I'm no huge fan of him and I hope if the Clippers thing doesn't work out, he'll go into broadcasting.

[kozlodoev]

My speculation is that perhaps Doc could accept trading Pierce, but the one thing he didn't want was for Pierce to be waived just to save money.  So, I suspect that Ainge is leaning towards doing that if he can't make a trade by June 30.

My speculation is that it has nothing to do with Doc. Ainge wants to make the best deal for the club, Doc is open to moving teams.

Letting Doc go is a function of getting the best for Garnett, not something that's done because Doc wants to jump ship.

[SHAQATTACK]

My speculation is that perhaps Doc could accept trading Pierce, but the one thing he didn't want was for Pierce to be waived just to save money.  So, I suspect that Ainge is leaning towards doing that if he can't make a trade by June 30.

My speculation is that it has nothing to do with Doc. Ainge wants to make the best deal for the club, Doc is open to moving teams.

Letting Doc go is a function of getting the best for Garnett, not something that's done because Doc wants to jump ship.

Agree......TP.....
Hard to believe Doc and KG would be willing to participate

This is the only thing that makes since for All this mess........ still It looks bad in several  aspects, not good team trust building move. ....it's just out there ..maybe to far

C's need to  really cash in BIG  time and must include Bledsoe.  to flip KG and Doc......could be a Huge mistake

[kozlodoev]

This is the only thing that makes since for All this mess........ still It looks bad in several  aspects, not good team trust building move. ....it's just out there ..maybe to far

Team trust? The people actually _on_ the team surely have a much better understanding of what the situation actually is.

[SHAQATTACK]

This is the only thing that makes since for All this mess........ still It looks bad in several  aspects, not good team trust building move. ....it's just out there ..maybe to far

Team trust? The people actually _on_ the team surely have a much better understanding of what the situation actually is.

lol...yeah I would hope so too.     poor Rondo.......he didn't get traded,  they traded the club out from under him.   oh we'll ..... not sure the pieces gained  are worth all this trouble ......

[kozlodoev]

This is the only thing that makes since for All this mess........ still It looks bad in several  aspects, not good team trust building move. ....it's just out there ..maybe to far

Team trust? The people actually _on_ the team surely have a much better understanding of what the situation actually is.

lol...yeah I would hope so too.     poor Rondo.......he didn't get traded,  they traded the club out from under him.   oh we'll ..... not sure the pieces gained  are worth all this trouble ......

Well yeah, contrary to popular opinion, it's players that are supposed to cater to the team, not the other way around.

[clover]

My speculation is that perhaps Doc could accept trading Pierce, but the one thing he didn't want was for Pierce to be waived just to save money.  So, I suspect that Ainge is leaning towards doing that if he can't make a trade by June 30.

Why should Doc be so concerned about that difference?

The obvious is that Pierce and KG got feeling they'd rather go home to LA to have a chance to win with the Clips, after the deal was on the table midseason--and then got the idea of taking Doc with them.  Doc loved it, as not only did it give him another chance to piggyback a championship win on KG's leadership, but it also spared him the drag on his record of coaching through another rebuild.  Probably didn't help that Danny was nudging him to coach a little differently in his last losing playoffs effort.

So he waited for the opportunity to mature in the offseason and here we are.

Absolute conjecture on my part, of course.

[LooseCannon]

My speculation is that perhaps Doc could accept trading Pierce, but the one thing he didn't want was for Pierce to be waived just to save money.  So, I suspect that Ainge is leaning towards doing that if he can't make a trade by June 30.

Why should Doc be so concerned about that difference?

In one word: loyalty.

[clover]

My speculation is that perhaps Doc could accept trading Pierce, but the one thing he didn't want was for Pierce to be waived just to save money.  So, I suspect that Ainge is leaning towards doing that if he can't make a trade by June 30.

Why should Doc be so concerned about that difference?

In one word: loyalty.

But if Pierce were waived (amnesty or $5M), he could choose his next team.  A trade gives Pierce no power.

And kind of hard for Doc to get on his high horse about loyalty when he's in the midst of sticking it to Danny.

[Fafnir]

My speculation is that perhaps Doc could accept trading Pierce, but the one thing he didn't want was for Pierce to be waived just to save money.  So, I suspect that Ainge is leaning towards doing that if he can't make a trade by June 30.

Why should Doc be so concerned about that difference?

In one word: loyalty.

But if Pierce were waived (amnesty or $5M), he could choose his next team.  A trade gives Pierce no power.

And kind of hard for Doc to get on his high horse about loyalty when he's in the midst of sticking it to Danny.

It sounds like Doc was more loyal to Pierce/KG than the C's and didn't want to rebuild while casting them off.

He wanted a better scenario and seems to have manufactured his way into one. (assuming this deal happens somehow)