Clippers, Celtics close to Doc Rivers deal

The Clippers and Boston Celtics are closing in on a deal to bring Coach Doc Rivers to L.A., according to league officials who were not authorized to speak publicly on the situation.

The Clippers had been willing to offer the Celtics a 2015 first-round pick for the rights to Rivers, but L.A. wanted it to be lottery-protected. The Celtics wanted the pick to be unprotected, and may end up getting their wish, the officials said.

All of this of course is pending league approval, and the NBA doesn’t open for business until Monday.

Even while waiting for the NBA to open, the Clippers engaged the Celtics in talks again Sunday and both teams are confident Rivers will end up coaching in L.A., the executives said.

“This is very, very close to being done,” one official said. “The belief with both teams is that the deal is going to get there.”

Rivers and Clippers owner Donald Sterling have been working on a contract that would pay Rivers $6 million to $7 million per season, the executives said, and it would be a five-year deal.

Rivers has three years left on his deal with Boston for $21 million.

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