Trade That Would Send Kevin Garnett, Doc Rivers to Clippers Has Hit an Impasse

Over the weekend, reports surfaced of a potential trade being drawn up that involved Kevin Garnett and coach Doc Rivers (well, the rights to sign Doc Rivers) heading to the Clippers in exchange for L.A. shipping DeAndre Jordan and a couple of Draft picks out to Boston. According to USA Today, those conversations have stalled: “The move that could send Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers and center Kevin Garnett to the Los Angeles Clippers is still alive, but the two teams are at an impasse in discussions about how to make it happen. Still, a resolution is expected in the coming days. The only question that matters at the moment is whether Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge eventually will decide that acquiring fifth-year center DeAndre Jordan and two future first-round picks is fair compensation for losing his coach and his 37-year-old big man. If he does, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, this deal will likely get done. If he doesn’t, and instead insists that third-year Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe must also be in the trade, then Rivers and Garnett would stay put and the Clippers would simply hire one of the coaching candidates who have interviewed for their vacant job (former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins and Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw lead that group). While Celtics small forward Paul Pierce is not part of the trade talks, he could be bought out of the final year of his contract this July ($5 million of his $15.3 million) and join Rivers and Garnett with the Clippers as a free agent if this deal went down.”