The Celtics have been a constant threat to emerge from the Eastern Conference for years now. Since 2017, Boston has played in six conference finals in an eight-year span, winning twice.
However, that success has yet to translate into an NBA title. Despite how often the C’s have advanced deep into the postseason, the organization’s last title came in 2008. That team’s head coach was Doc Rivers, helping the team defeat the rival Lakers in the NBA Finals.
A lot has changed since then. Rivers remained on the job with Boston until 2013, when he took over as head coach of the Clippers. Not only is he still a part of the Celtics’ illustrious legacy, but his departure from the team had a ripple effect that he still feels to this day.
So why did Rivers leave the Celtics? Here’s more on him leaving the team and trading him to the Clippers.
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Why did Doc Rivers leave the Celtics?
The saga surrounding Rivers’ eventual departure was complicated, with many rumors circulating about the three parties involved (Rivers, Boston and Los Angeles) about what each was looking for.
At the end of the day, though, Rivers’ reason for leaving the Celtics was simple: He had no interest in staying for a rebuild.
“It dragged on to a point where there were hurt feelings for sure,” Rivers said. he told Adrian Wojnarowski, then of Yahoo Sports, in 2013. “The truth was this: I really didn’t want to go through a rebuild. I’ve been through three: when I first got to Orlando and then when Grant Hill fell apart again. And I’d gone through one in Boston.”
At the time, the futures of Boston stars Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett looked bleak, with the pair aging and their best playing days behind them. Garnett was 37 years old, while Pierce was 35. Rivers and point guard Rajon Rondo were set to be the centerpieces of a transition period for the organization, which did not interest the head coach.
“It’s easy to say, ‘Just do it,’ but for a coach it’s brutal,” Rivers said. “To show up, to get your ass kicked, is brutal. It takes a lot out of you. At the end of the year, when we lost, I had every intention of doing it. The more I thought about it, I knew it just wasn’t in me again. At least not there again.”
Shortly after Rivers was traded to Los Angeles, Boston dealt Garnett and Pierce in the blockbuster deal to Brooklyn, getting three first-round picks and a pick swap as parts of the trade with the Nets.
The Rivers trade had a ripple effect that still has an impact to this day. Brad Stevens left his head coaching position at Butler to take over as Rivers’ replacement. While the club was expected to struggle, Stevens turned out to be one of the best signings in recent history, helping the team to seven playoff appearances and three conference finals in an eight-year span.
Stevens has since moved from the bench to the front office, serving as the Celtics’ president of basketball operations. He has played an integral role at that position, as he helped the team land Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis this offseason.
Rivers’ departure may have been difficult at the time, but it’s safe to say that the Celtics came out of the whole ordeal pretty well.
Doc Rivers Trading
- Hair clippers get: doctor rivers
- The Celts get: 2015 first round pick
The Clippers agreed to send the Celtics a first-round pick in 2015. Los Angeles wanted it to be lottery-protected, but the team ultimately gave in to Boston’s request and it was left unprotected.
As part of the deal, the Clippers agreed to assume Rivers’ contract with Boston. At the time of the trade, he had three years and $21 million left.
The draft pick in the deal ended up being No. 28 overall in the 2015 draft. The Celtics used it to select RJ Hunter, a guard out of Georgia State. Hunter ended up playing in 36 games in his rookie season with Boston, but the team waived him the following season. He finished his NBA career with just 45 games played.
