Like the Boston Celtics aren’t already linked to enough mayhem.
Boston and the Los Angeles Clippers are currently engaged in talks about a trade that would send Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers (and potentially Paul Pierce) to Tinseltown in exchange for DeAndre Jordan and Caron Butler, among other pieces, one of which the Celtics had hoped would be Eric Bledsoe.
Hollywood has remained steadfast in its refusal to include Bledsoe, the prevailing thought being that they would prefer to use him and Blake Griffin in a sign-and-trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for Dwight Howard.
Never mind the trade itself. though. Even if an accord isn’t struck, the Celtics could find themselves down a coach. Rivers is attempting to orchestrate his removal from Boston and it’s difficult to envision him and the team making an amicable mends if nothing happens. We can’t rule it out, but it seems beyond ridiculous to believe the Celtics won’t feel slighted by Doc after all is said and done.
Left to find a new head coach, the Celtics could explore any number of different avenues. George Karl, Lionel Hollins, Vinny Del Negro and Brian Shaw, among others, are still available. Boston can chase any one of them. The Celtics could also attempt to lure Tom Thibodeau away from the Chicago Bulls, according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times:
One coach who won’t be participating in the offseason NBA coaching carousel is the Bulls’ Tom Thibodeau.
Early Sunday afternoon, there were whispers that if the Boston Celtics trade coach Doc Rivers in a package to the Los Angeles Clippers, Thibodeau would be on the radar as a possible replacement. But an NBA source indicated Sunday evening that the Celtics would not pursue Thibodeau because they know the Bulls would not grant permission to speak to the former Celtics associate head coach.
“He’s loved in Boston, but he’s loved a little more by Chicago,’’ the source said.
The Bulls just gave him a nice raise when he signed a four-year contract extension that will pay him $17.5 over the next four seasons.
So you mean to tell us that the Bulls won’t allow the Celtics permission to speak with a coach they recently signed to a new contract? Go figure. That Thibs was even considered an option for a split second is absurd. Not that he’s not a respectable candidate, because he is. But because the Celtics shouldn’t be looking at coaches under contract. Window shopping of that kind is frowned upon. Just look at Rivers himself.
Blowing up the roster and then tasked with finding a new head coach will put the Celtics in a difficult position. Rajon Rondo won’t respect just anybody and not all sideline meanders are capable of enduring a rebuild. The odds of the Celtics landing a big name to guide them through a transition period is then slim. Stealing a big name like Thibs from a playoff contender like the Bulls is even slimmer.
Coach Thibs, a former Celtics assistant, does have history in Boston, but I’d personally be miffed by Chicago’s decision to let him speak with anyone. And I mean anyone. He just coached the Derrick Rose-less Bulls to the second round of the NBA playoffs. He inspired a team of afflicted athletes to play hard every night. You don’t just give that up or even put yourself in a situation where you might be asked to give that up.
The Bulls haven’t. And they won’t. Nor should they. Meaning Boston is right in taking its impending coaching search elsewhere. Perhaps toward someone who isn’t under contract and in a better situation.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
