The Los Angeles Clippers have wrapped up their coaching search. With a marquee name in place, they can officially set their sights on Chris Paul, the next big offseason move. Doc Rivers is fully aware of the star point guard's expiring contract and is ready to make Paul the No. 1 priority going forward.
Rivers went on the Doug Gottlieb Show to talk about his new position with the Los Angeles Clippers. With the NBA Draft in full force and free agency beginning within a few days, Rivers does not have much time to sit and rest, work starts immediately with his new team. Rivers told Gottlieb that he has already been in contact with Paul.
"Yea, that's been good. I'm looking forward to it. Obviously we've got to make sure he signs here," Rivers said.
The Clippers knew they had to get a proven coach in place in order to have any hope at re-signing Paul to a long-term contract. Los Angeles parted ways with Vinny Del Negro reportedly because Paul was unhappy with the way the coach ran the team, so the Clippers went out and got one of the most respected coaches in the league to replace him. It can be assumed that Rivers would not have left Boston if he thought Paul was signing somewhere else, but no one is confident until the point guard agrees to a contract.
Rivers is confident that with Paul back in the fold with the team and working with players like Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers are immediately in contention for a title. He is hopeful that the Clippers will capitalize off a productive regular season and transition into a long playoff run.
"I clearly think this is an extremely talented basketball team, there were times in last year when they were the best team. What we have to figure out is, with the group we have can we do that in the postseason as opposed to just the regular season?"
Rivers admits that retirement was looking pretty good at one point and that likely played into the decision for Boston general manager Danny Ainge to discuss a trade involving the coach.
"I think what drove it a little bit was my indecision of whether or not I was going to coach or not. I've gone through that the last two or three years," Rivers said. "Danny and I started talking about other situations, and Danny brought up this and I thought it was something he should look into if he thought it was good for him."
Rivers also denied reports that Rajon Rondo played any role in the Rivers' departure. He says that he left the Celtics on good terms and there was no bad blood between the parties.
