Lakers Rumors: Doc Rivers shuts down rumors about leaving Clippers
Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve the head coaching position, as Doc Rivers shut down any talk of him leaving the Los Angeles Clippers for the Lakers.
There have been plenty of Los Angeles Lakers rumors in recent days. With the playoffs no longer a possibility, the organization has turned its attention to the offseason in preparation for the 2019-20 season.
One of the Lakers rumors that have been circulating is that head coach Luke Walton will not be retained this offseason. With Walton expected to be fired, people have begun wondering who could take over the Lakers’ head coaching job.
Former Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd has been mentioned as a potential candidate. While it can be argued how much of an upgrade Kidd would be on Walton, there is no arguing that Doc Rivers would present an upgrade for the Lakers at head coach.
Rivers is an NBA Champion, leading the Boston Celtics to a title over the Lakers in 2008. This year, he is putting on arguably his best coaching job, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 42-30 record and a probable playoff appearance.
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At the trade deadline, it looked like the Clippers were accepting their fate of not being a playoff team. They traded away their best player, Tobias Harris, in a blockbuster deal to the Philadelphia 76ers. Not only are the Clippers not tanking, but they are also one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winning eight of their last nine games.
The Clippers are the hot team in Los Angeles right now and Rivers is a big reason why. Naturally, as a result, the Lakers would like to quell that momentum. One way to do that would be to get Rivers away from the Clippers and bring him to the Lakers.
There was some speculation recently that the Lakers could target Rivers to become their next head coach. Rivers wasted no time in shooting down those rumors.
Rivers revealed that he has an excellent relationship with Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer and that he signed an extension with the Clippers, saying he will be with the organization for a long time.
Doc Rivers: "Let me end this. Magic Johnson & I are very close friends...but Steve Ballmer and I have a great relationship. He gave me an out, where I could opt-out this summer...early this year, let's end this thing, extend, make it a longer deal. I'm here. My job is not done."
— Mirjam Swanson (@MirjamSwanson) March 20, 2019
Clippers’ Doc Rivers on Lakers coaching rumors: “I’m going nowhere. I’m going to be here for a long time.”
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) March 20, 2019
Said his contract originally had an opt out for this summer but he agreed with owner Steve Ballmer to remove the option.
Who would have guessed that Rivers would outlast DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul with the Clippers? He went through the Donald Sterling fiasco. This should come as no surprise that Rivers wants to stay with the Clippers.
They are in an excellent position with young, exciting players and draft picks. The Lakers have LeBron James, but there are a lot of question marks surrounding the organization.
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With Rivers seemingly off the board, the Lakers will have to look elsewhere if they do indeed move on from Walton.