Doc Rivers to the Knicks?

MartinToVaught · Post #1 » by **MartinToVaught** » Wed Feb 28, 2018 4:17 am

Please bail us out, Knicks... please! :pray:

It would be an easier sell for Clippers coach Doc Rivers if Kristaps Porzingis didn't tear his ACL three weeks ago to complicate the Knicks' rebuilding program.

But according to a former Rivers associate, it's not far-fetched for the one-time Knicks guard to have interest in the team's coaching job if Jeff Hornacek, who has one year left on his contract, is let go after the season.

"Doc enjoyed his time there," the former associate said. "He respects the city, he respects the organization."

The Knicks, who are scheduled to leave for Los Angeles after Wednesday's practice, will face Rivers' Clippers on Friday at Staples Center.

Rivers has one year left on his contract that reportedly pays him about $10 million per season and he'd likely seek an extension in the offseason. Since he's under contract, compensation in the form of a draft pick would be in order if Knicks president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry attempted to pursue Rivers.

Dolan is said to have had a long fascination with Rivers, who played for the Knicks from 1992-95.

https://nypost.com/2018/02/27/knicks-doc-rivers-hook-up-not-out-of-the-question/

Ranma · Post #2 » by **Ranma** » Wed Feb 28, 2018 5:17 am

I'd love to unload Doc & Son to the Knicks for a first-round pick. I can totally see Doc wanting the Knicks job so he can exert undue influence on a clueless owner a la Isiah Thomas after pulling that scam here. If anything, getting rid of whatever input and influence he has with the organization would be a net positive.

This better not be a negotiation ploy for Ballmer to consider an extension for Doc. Doc may have done a good job overall this season given our roster but he's been the primary reason for our years of mediocrity with elite-level talent and he and his son's presence contributed to not only losing Chris Paul but undoubtedly prompted us to sign Griffin to that ill-advised max contract before we fortunately unloaded it.

Marc Berman, NYPost.com (2/27/18)

Rivers still has personnel say, but league executives don’t consider that to be his strong suit.

If Rivers were to bring along Mike Woodson as his associate coach, all the better fit. A Rivers-Woodson ticket would excite the despondent Knicks fan base a whole lot more than the current Hornacek-Kurt Rambis pairing.

Knicks-Doc Rivers Hook-Up Not Out of the Question

donemilio21 · Post #3 » by **donemilio21** » Wed Feb 28, 2018 7:54 am

Ranma wrote:I'd love to unload Doc & Son to the Knicks for a first-round pick. I can totally see Doc wanting the Knicks job so he can exert undue influence on a clueless owner a la Isiah Thomas after pulling that scam here. If anything, getting rid of whatever input and influence he has with the organization would be a net positive.

This better not be a negotiation ploy for Ballmer to consider an extension for Doc. Doc may have done a good job overall this season given our roster but he's been the primary reason for our years of mediocrity with elite-level talent and he and his son's presence contributed to not only losing Chris Paul but undoubtedly prompted us to sign Griffin to that ill-advised max contract before we fortunately unloaded it.

Marc Berman, NYPost.com (2/27/18)
Rivers still has personnel say, but league executives don’t consider that to be his strong suit.

If Rivers were to bring along Mike Woodson as his associate coach, all the better fit. A Rivers-Woodson ticket would excite the despondent Knicks fan base a whole lot more than the current Hornacek-Kurt Rambis pairing.

Knicks-Doc Rivers Hook-Up Not Out of the Question

I really doubt that the Knicks would surrender a pick to sign a contract with Doc. Also players and coaches cannot be combined in the same deal. Would this make Doc first coach to get traded twice?

What is more likely is that Doc would seek a 3-5 year extension this summer, Ballmer won't give it to him, they'll reach a buy-out so he can go to Knicks.

Roscoe Sheed · Post #4 » by **Roscoe Sheed** » Wed Feb 28, 2018 8:48 am

I was really down on doc at the beginning of the year, but any reasonable person has to admit that he has done a good job this year

Quake Griffin · Post #5 » by **Quake Griffin** » Wed Feb 28, 2018 12:46 pm

A 1st rounder would tempt me to move Doc for sure.

No protections on that damn pick.
We aint the desperate party. That’s the Knicks.

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Wammy Giveaway · Post #6 » by **Wammy Giveaway** » Wed Feb 28, 2018 6:42 pm

Ranma wrote:I'd love to unload Doc & Son to the Knicks for a first-round pick. I can totally see Doc wanting the Knicks job so he can exert undue influence on a clueless owner a la Isiah Thomas after pulling that scam here. If anything, getting rid of whatever input and influence he has with the organization would be a net positive.

Just remember:

1. If Doc Rivers is traded to the Knicks, a gag order will be imposed between Clippers and Knicks. Both teams will be barred from trading with each other for the remainder of the season.

2. The CBA prohibits players from being traded for coaches because coaches are not a part of the salary cap. However, Austin is a special case: his powers were unlocked once he arrived to play for his father. The odds of Austin regressing to a scrub if both he and Doc are separated will be extremely high, but rules are rules. Austin will have to be traded somewhere else or remain with the Clippers.

donemilio21 · Post #7 » by **donemilio21** » Wed Feb 28, 2018 7:07 pm

I can see Dolan offering Doc 6 year $80 million deal to become the Coach + President.

MartinToVaught · Post #8 » by **MartinToVaught** » Wed Feb 28, 2018 7:35 pm

Roscoe Sheed wrote:I was really down on doc at the beginning of the year, but any reasonable person has to admit that he has done a good job this year

I don't. I think the front office has done a good job of bringing in hungry, self-motivated players. Doc's coaching has been a hindrance in many ways, from the nepotism situation with Austin, to the counterproductive lineups he plays, to the lack of a coherent system on offense or defense. I think a better coach would have this roster solidly in the playoff picture, not fighting for the 8th seed.

Roscoe Sheed · Post #9 » by **Roscoe Sheed** » Thu Mar 1, 2018 3:18 am

MartinToVaught wrote:
Roscoe Sheed wrote:I was really down on doc at the beginning of the year, but any reasonable person has to admit that he has done a good job this year

I don't. I think the front office has done a good job of bringing in hungry, self-motivated players. Doc's coaching has been a hindrance in many ways, from the nepotism situation with Austin, to the counterproductive lineups he plays, to the lack of a coherent system on offense or defense. I think a better coach would have this roster solidly in the playoff picture, not fighting for the 8th seed.

I don’t agree. Considering all of the injuries and new personnel, being a few games over .500 is impressive

Vae Victus · Post #10 » by **Vae Victus** » Thu Mar 1, 2018 4:44 am

Sheer lunacy if the Knicks pull the trigger on such an exchange.

Ranma · Post #11 » by **Ranma** » Wed Mar 28, 2018 2:47 am

Read on Twitter

esqtvd · Post #12 » by **esqtvd** » Wed Mar 28, 2018 10:08 am

But according to a former Rivers associate, it's not far-fetched for the one-time Knicks guard to have interest

Fake news. The usual suspects are all over this, LOL

MartinToVaught · Post #13 » by **MartinToVaught** » Wed Mar 28, 2018 1:51 pm

esqtvd wrote:
But according to a former Rivers associate, it's not far-fetched for the one-time Knicks guard to have interest

Fake news. The usual suspects are all over this, LOL

Yes, because it's so unbelievable that Doc could quit on his current team and force his way to another team in a bigger market. :roll:

Quake Griffin · Post #14 » by **Quake Griffin** » Wed Mar 28, 2018 5:12 pm

If we’re getting a 1st to release Doc, I’m all about it. I value the asset more than I do his coaching ability during the rebuild or retool.

I’m not totally interested in moving on just to move on, though there is an argument for it.

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esqtvd · Post #15 » by **esqtvd** » Wed Mar 28, 2018 10:30 pm

MartinToVaught wrote:
esqtvd wrote:
But according to a former Rivers associate, it's not far-fetched for the one-time Knicks guard to have interest

Fake news. The usual suspects are all over this, LOL

Yes, because it's so unbelievable that Doc could quit on his current team and force his way to another team in a bigger market.

I didn't say it was unbelievable, I just question the sourcing. They should be interested.

Was Doc excited about helming the Celtics' rebuild? No. Did he force his way out of town? No. Ainge let him know about other teams' interest and Doc thought the Clippers alone sounded intriguing. I don't blame any player for being open to a better winning situation, so why not a coach?

http://www.espn.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/9427400/doc-rivers-danny-ainge-offer-slightly-different-versions-coach-exit-boston-celtics-los-angeles-clippers

I have zero problem with anybody doing what they want to do with their life if they have a choice.

This question may arise again soon. If Ballmer doesn't offer him a new contract this summer, Doc goes into 2018-19 as a lame duck, the worst of all possible worlds for a coach, and he SHOULD want out. Now I'm not sure Doc's as ambivalent about his situation here as he was with Ainge. He has his Malibu house and the richest owner in sports and at least some influence left in the FO. OTOH, I'm not sure just how crazy Ballmer is about Doc. With Chris and Blake gone now, the "family" vibe is gone and it's a new ballgame. Sentimental stuff like the great pilgrimage to re-sign DJ is so 2015. :cry:

Ranma · Post #16 » by **Ranma** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 6:12 pm

Read on Twitter

Javier Acosta · Post #17 » by **Javier Acosta** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 6:28 pm

Ranma wrote:

Read on Twitter

nickhx2 · Post #18 » by **nickhx2** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 6:48 pm

doc has had a season that has been remarkable

but i'm totally good with "trading" him. just not sure what we could get?

Quake Griffin · Post #19 » by **Quake Griffin** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 7:10 pm

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/249520/Chris-Paul-Revealed-To-Steve-Ballmer-That-Doc-Rivers-Was-Contributor-To-Exit

CP3 Bump

esqtvd · Post #20 » by **esqtvd** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 7:30 pm

Very fair article. Doc is not perfect but he's not the villain either. I thought these were the key grafs. The problem was lack of chemistry even when he got here. The question is whether anyone could really have done anything about it.

Perhaps a locker room with a more resilient emotional constitution would've chosen not to make Austin's presence an issue, but Doc was well-acquainted with his team's combustibility. And when Doc extended a 3-year, $35 million contract to Austin in the summer of 2016, the atmosphere was heightened even more, especially when Austin assumed a more vocal posture with his teammates that fall, even as he continued to grow as a productive player.

"When you don't win, then you look for reasons why," Doc Rivers says. "So first it's, 'Blake and Chris don't get along.' That was first. Then it was, 'Doc the GM.' Then it was, 'Austin Rivers.' The question you can ask after the fact is that, 'Because of the team, was it the right move?' In retrospect, would I have done it again? 'I don't know' is the answer. But when you look at how he's playing now versus when we got him, yeah. But I don't know, because it's very complicated."

I mean, when it's your two top players, can it ever be fixed?

https://nypost.com/2017/11/08/just-how-awkward-the-clippers-griffin-paul-dynamic-was/