Source: Chris Paul is pushing hard for the trade

[j804]

BOSTON — They once traded franchises. They took months to formalize what should have been a simple deal for Bill Walton. Now, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Clippers are discussing a trade involving a coach.

These teams just do not do the predictable when it comes to trades. The Celtics and the Clippers are discussing a proposal to send Coach Doc Rivers and forward Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles in return for center DeAndre Jordan and a No. 1 pick. There could be additional draft picks or spare parts added to make the deal pass salary-cap muster.

Clippers point guard Chris Paul reportedly is pushing hard for the deal as a condition of his re-signing with the team, moving the historically difficult-to-deal-with Clippers owner Donald Sterling to the background.

If the deal is completed, it will most likely signal the end of Paul Pierce’s 15-year career with the Celtics. The team has a $5 million buyout option on his contract, which must be exercised by June 30.

If the Celtics do not trade him before then, they will probably exercise the option to continue the rebuilding process, which Pierce wants no part of. He has one year left on his contract, at more than $15 million, and has said he intends to play next season. He turns 36 in October.

There has been speculation that Pierce may join the Clippers if the Celtics waive him.

A person briefed on the discussions said Monday that Danny Ainge, the Celtics’ president for basketball operations, originally wanted the young point guard Eric Bledsoe included in the deal and was trying to persuade the reluctant Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck to allow Rivers to leave two years into a five-year, $35 million deal. The Clippers have since said the inclusion of Bledsoe is a nonstarter, which caused an earlier proposal to collapse.

Reports on Monday, however, indicated the teams were talking again, with Ainge asking the Clippers to take either Jason Terry or Courtney Lee. That could involve the Celtics taking back the expiring contract of Caron Butler.

Garnett, who turned 37 in May, would have to waive his no-trade clause for the deal to be completed, something he reportedly would do if it meant staying with Rivers, whom he admires.

Should no deal occur, the person briefed on the discussions said the Celtics would hasten the rebuilding process by using their amnesty card on Garnett, who is due more than $18 million over the next two years, and then exercising the Pierce buyout.

Attempts to reach Rivers and Ainge on Monday were unsuccessful.

The inclusion of Rivers in the proposed trade is fitting seamlessly into the tortured history of complicated, unconventional Celtics-Clippers transactions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/sports/basketball/proposed-celtics-trade-could-send-rivers-to-the-clippers.html


I saw this on the NY Times from Peter May who also works for ESPN Boston, so I'd say he knows a little something. It's different from what Woj is reporting but interesting nonetheless about if the deal falls through we'd amnesty KG and buyout Pierce, seriously? I hope they take back Terry at least and that's still there. I really think if we left Bledsoe on the table we could have got him, I mean if CP3 wanted Doc and he'd resign automatically, and especially if he was fine giving up Bledsoe they'd HAVE to do it.

[nickagneta]

KG can not be amnestied, he signed a new contract last off season. Only those players still under contract with the team they were with during the lockout that is still under the same contract they were in during the lockout can be amnestied.

[j804]

KG can not be amnestied, he signed a new contract last off season. Only those players still under contract with the team they were with during the lockout that is still under the same contract they were in during the lockout can be amnestied.

He maybe meant just let him retire? weird

[D.o.s.]

KG can not be amnestied, he signed a new contract last off season. Only those players still under contract with the team they were with during the lockout that is still under the same contract they were in during the lockout can be amnestied.

Yup.

If anyone is interested, you can find the list of players here:
http://nba.si.com/2013/06/11/which-players-could-be-released-via-the-amnesty-clause-this-summer/

[PhoSita]

Undermines your "source" pretty badly when they don't even understand how the amnesty clause actually works.

[j804]

Undermines your "source" pretty badly when they don't even understand how the amnesty clause actually works.

I was thinking the same thing the CP3 part it was reported by ESPN LA too though I think

[LGC88]

"Source" = no clue what is going on, so they made it up based on popular ideas (pick up on Clippers and Celtics forum fans).
OR
"Source" = manipulation from either part of the deal leaking false info.

Have to be patient... can't wait to realize Danny's plan during this summer.

[Roy H.]

KG can not be amnestied, he signed a new contract last off season. Only those players still under contract with the team they were with during the lockout that is still under the same contract they were in during the lockout can be amnestied.

And people wonder why I hate Peter May.

[Fafnir]

KG can not be amnestied, he signed a new contract last off season. Only those players still under contract with the team they were with during the lockout that is still under the same contract they were in during the lockout can be amnestied.

And people wonder why I hate Peter May.

Chris Mannix made a similarly big mistake just now on ESPN radio, saying that "unless the Lakers are willing to sign and trade him Howard won't leave the money on the table".

New cba means sign and trades don't give players more money, that was one of the BIG changes and NBA writers and media constantly get it wrong.

[Roy H.]

KG can not be amnestied, he signed a new contract last off season. Only those players still under contract with the team they were with during the lockout that is still under the same contract they were in during the lockout can be amnestied.

And people wonder why I hate Peter May.

Chris Mannix made a similarly big mistake just now on ESPN radio, saying that "unless the Lakers are willing to sign and trade him Howard won't leave the money on the table".

New cba means sign and trades don't give players more money, that was one of the BIG changes and NBA writers and media constantly get it wrong.

Yep. 

It surprises me that sports writers and their editors can be so ignorant about the sport they cover.  Not everybody needs to be Larry Coon, but at least know the specifics of what you're talking about before you put it into writing / on the air.

[BballTim]

KG can not be amnestied, he signed a new contract last off season. Only those players still under contract with the team they were with during the lockout that is still under the same contract they were in during the lockout can be amnestied.

And people wonder why I hate Peter May.

  Some people don't.

[droopdog7]

KG can not be amnestied, he signed a new contract last off season. Only those players still under contract with the team they were with during the lockout that is still under the same contract they were in during the lockout can be amnestied.

And people wonder why I hate Peter May.

Chris Mannix made a similarly big mistake just now on ESPN radio, saying that "unless the Lakers are willing to sign and trade him Howard won't leave the money on the table".

New cba means sign and trades don't give players more money, that was one of the BIG changes and NBA writers and media constantly get it wrong.

I'm assuming he means sign and trade versus straight signing with a team that doesn't have max cap space to sign him.  That would be a difference in money.

[Afam]

Can we not turn this into a Cba thread. Please make mistakes. What I love here is Chris Paul pushing the lol clips to make this deal.