HoopsHype.com Rumors

Despite the Celtics’ strong desire to put the matter behind them, Doc Rivers’ immediate future with the club has still not been decided. There still is the possibility — stress possibility — Rivers will choose to walk away from his contract to coach the Celts. A source close to the situation, however, insists it remains far more likely he will return. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Coaching 

The word as expressed to us is that it is “90-10” that Rivers will continue on a contract that has three years and $21 million remaining. If he leaves the Celtics, it will not be with the intent of coaching another team. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Coaching 

Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge was contacted by the Brooklyn Nets, who wanted to speak to Doc Rivers about their vacant coaching position, team and league sources confirmed to ESPNBoston.com. Ainge, according to those sources, denied the Nets permission to talk with his coach, who has three years and $21 million remaining on his contract. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Coaching 

If Rivers decided to go back to the broadcast booth, where he received rave reviews for his work on TNT, the Celtics still would hold his coaching rights for the life of his contract, preventing him from hopping to another team without some negotiated compensation. Rivers is expected to sit down with his coaching staff, each of whom has an expiring contract, over the weekend. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Coaching 

Both the Nets and the Clippers would jump at the chance to get Doc Rivers out of Boston, but in addition to publicly stating his desire to keep Rivers, Celtics president Danny Ainge has privately told teams that he will not grant clubs permission to speak to Rivers about their coaching vacancies. Ainge and Rivers are close enough that if Rivers wanted out of Boston, Ainge would probably relent, but there is no indication that Rivers wants a change of scenery. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Coaching 

"Our indications are that Doc’s coming back," said Wyc Grousbeck, Celtics' owner. "Typically, and it’s probably similar to Kevin Garnett, as an example, everybody is tired, burnt out, frustrated -- I mean, losing to the Knicks is something I never wanted to experience in my life... Everybody gets time to unwind and decompress. I expect Doc is going to help Danny with the draft workouts, I expect he’s going to be in the war room on June 27th when all the drafts and trades -- if any -- are made. And then over the free-agency period, a week or two after that. So between now and July 15th, there’s a lot of work to do to put the team together for next year. And I expect Doc’s going to be there for that." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Wyc Grousbeck, Kevin Garnett, Owners 

Colangelo planned on naming a coach by the start of the calendar year, but deviated from that plan in an attempt to convince Krzyzewski to come back. (He did not want to bother him during Duke's season.) A coach needs to be in place by the first USA basketball minicamp in July. Colangelo said he hasn't approached any other candidates. (The candidates widely speculated were Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and former Philadelphia 76ers coach Doug Collins.) "I would never do that," Colangelo said about talking to other candidates. "I've said that from the beginning, for what he's invested in USA Basketball, he's entitled to make his decision before anyone." SI.com

Doc Rivers, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Team USA, Mike Krzyzewski, Doug Collins 

"Yeah (he'll be back), Doc and I are talking about our team next year," Ainge said. "(No suspense) from my perspective. We've got a great coach. We've got a coach everybody would love to have and he's got three years left on his contract and I think Doc likes Boston, too.Coaches get tired, though. It's a hard job. Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Coaching 

Gary Washburn: Danny Ainge confirms that Doc Rivers is returning next season as #celtics coach. "We've got a coach everybody would love to have." Twitter @GwashNBAGlobe

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Coaching 

Steve Bulpett: Rivers injured, not at Pre-Draft combine. Suffered bad hamstring pull playing tennis. Ainge: "It's kind of funny, but it's not." Twitter @SteveBHoop

Draft, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Coaching 

Though Ainge regularly talks with Rivers, he said he has not had contact with either Paul Pierce or Kevin Garnett, whose futures figure prominently in his immediate plans. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Trade, Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett 

Doc Rivers is off on a golf course somewhere, pondering his future with the Celtics and asking for time to think. But that hasn’t stopped the Celtics coach from taking regular part in the team’s plans for next year, according to president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. “I talk to Doc all of the time, and we’re talking about our plans for next year,” said Ainge, who left yesterday for Chicago to attend the NBA’s pre-draft combine. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Coaching 

Though Ainge is unsure of whether Rivers will make an appearance in Chicago, he continues to move forward as the coach will remain in place. “I only expect Doc to say something to me if he is not coming back,” Ainge said. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Coaching 

Jackson also wanted input into personnel decisions -- not control, but a say that would be respected. Lacob and Guber agreed. "I was influenced a little bit by Boston," said Lacob, who'd been a minority owner of the Celtics. "I saw what Doc did, his background. I saw you could come out of the broadcast booth if you had the NBA playing career, and be very successful. And I saw that the most important thing that Doc Rivers provided was leadership, and the guys were willing to follow him ... if you can't lead people, whether you're the CEO or the basketball coach, the Xs and Os and all the other stuff is important. But if you can't lead them, they're not going to follow you, anyway." NBA.com

Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Mark Jackson, Joe Lacob, Owners 

Ben Rohrbach: Ainge on Stephen A.'s rumored Doc feud: "I think I have the best coach in the NBA, and I'm not the least bit tired of hearing his voice." Twitter @brohrbach

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Coaching 

Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith told SNY Nets that he expects Billy King to make his next calls about Doc Rivers and Brian Shaw, both of whom are still under contract. NetsDaily

Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Media, Brian Shaw, Billy King 

Smith, speaking with Darrel Johnson of SNY, listed Rivers' name first when asked about the Nets priorities. "Expect the Boston Celtics to receive a call for permission to talk to Doc Rivers… Expect Brian Shaw of the Indiana Pacers to get a call," and he also mentioned Larry Brown. He then returned to the man who will lead the search. "Billy King will scan the globe. I’ve known him for over 20 years. He’s not going sit idly by." NetsDaily

Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Larry Brown, Billy King 

Those who are being considered include Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw, former Nets and Knicks coach Larry Brown, current Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers and former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. The Nets would need permission from the Celtics to approach Rivers. Wall Street Journal

Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Jerry Sloan, Larry Brown 

If Boston coach Doc Rivers were to part ways with the Celtics, as some have speculated because of the uncertain future of small forward Paul Pierce, then the Nets would have serious interest in him as well. USA Today Sports

Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Doc Rivers, Coaching 

And, amid one report that a deal with the Clippers that may include Doc Rivers is being tossed about in NBA circles (he got a good laugh at that one), the club’s president of basketball operations is turning a completely deaf ear as to what the Celts are or should be doing. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Doc Rivers, Coaching