The Pelicans and 76ers have already reached out to former Clippers coach Doc Rivers regarding their head coaching jobs, Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated tweets.
The Clippers and Rivers parted ways on Monday in what was termed a mutual decision between the 58-year-old Rivers and owner Steve Ballmer, according to a team press release (hat tip to Jovan Buha of The Athletic).
The Clippers made the postseason in six of the seven years that Rivers coached them but never advanced past the second round.
New Orleans and Philadelphia have shown strong interest in Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue, who is now expected to be a prime candidate to replace Rivers. The Pelicans have reportedly taken their time doing background work on potential candidates to replace Alvin Gentry. They are looking for a coach who can take a relatively young roster, headed by Zion Williamson, to the next level.
The Sixers have also been linked to former Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni. The Sixers’ ownership group was reportedly pushing the front office to hire D’Antoni as Brett Brown’s replacement. They are searching for ways to get one of the most expensive rosters in the league to the Finals.
The availability of Rivers now further clouds the coaching searches around the league. As long as Rivers wants to coach next season, it seems a good bet he’ll land somewhere quickly.
Doc Rivers might be a great hire for the Pelicans. Such a young group they could probably use the veteran leadership doc brings. Get them to the next level first round second round of the playoffs consistently. Be a nice 3 year 4 year job.
Sixers? Absolutely not. They’re already at the three seed four seed level. Doc Rivers will do nothing for them.
Elton Brand needs a “splash” hire and Doc would be just that. Of course, the team will splash in the first or second round of the playoffs. But, Brand is looking for a contract extension and this would buy him 4 or 5 years. Its a good hire even if they don’t win a championship. And they won’t.
Has Philly been smokescreening waiting on this?
No way the nba didn’t know this was coming.
I still doubt 76ers have payroll budget to hire Ty Lue or Rivers
76ers
Go ahead and hire D’antoni and be knocked out in the first round playoffs
Nothing is a good fit
It’s not a question of “if they have it” but “do they want to pay it”.
Money is not an issue for this franchise.
Cavaliers should hire him
Even if the Cavs didn’t have a coach (they have Bickerstaff and just gave him a new deal a few months ago), why on earth would Doc Rivers want to coach there?
The most significant aspects for Clippers to win championships is head coach
I’m in favor of Doc -> Philly. Like him better than Lue, D’Antoni, Gentry. I’d be interested in Sam Cassell tho too, and maybe Kidd and probably would rank them in that order.
I mean it’s not like they need to ‘Lure’ Harden, that’s bs. They can only lure vets on min deals or MLE or BiE.
It really depends on what they do with Horford, JRich, Scott, and Smith’s contract tho. If they can deal them for a PG/SG/SF shooter then this team goes from 1st round bounce to ECF contender. And I think Doc could get them over the hump tbh.
I read that 76ers and Dantoni want to sign free agent James Harden in 2022.
He isnt a FA until 23-24 after his 47M player option. He will be 34. Sixers won’t even be the same team at that point. Embiid will be a FA. Not sure how James Harden 3 years from now helps you win a championship. Look at how much Melo declined by age 34. We’re just going to assume hell be dropping 30+? And then if they are going to trade for him, Houston wants Embiid or Simmons. Harden is on the back 9 of his career.
Harden will re-sign with Houston in 2023.
Put him on the Lakers bench. Lol
I am told 76ers and Rockets head coach budget is 3 million and under
With your contacts, you should send in a resume!
The voices in your head don’t count
Dionis?
Lol, maybe?
It’s funny how some guys disappear and perhaps come back with new usernames. I think “X percent sure” has some of the guys figured out but I can’t tell ever.
There are a few that seem like that. I had to change mine bc of the mlb site not working for my old handle and it got annoying logging into another acct just to comment on mlb ish.
Philly Ballers I think you’ve been using this one for quite a while though. At least a couple years right?
By the way, the runs at 10th and Lombard were epic last time I rolled through Philly.
You know there was another guy about 6 months or a year ago that was posting on every single article and had these Wild Scoops from different sources, but I forget what his name was. Sounded like a West Coast guy Bay Area guy as well.
Can anyone remember that guy’s user name? He’d be on every single article and he only lasted about six months but he was here every single day.
Wasn’t me.
Brett Brown was making $5m.
D’Antoni was making slightly less than $5m per season.