I thought Doc was talking about getting done some time soon? Guess not, because he’s back in Boston through 2016. Via the Boston Globe…
Globe NBA writer Gary Washburn reports that Celtics president Danny Ainge said today that coach Doc Rivers has agreed to a five-year contract extension to remain with the team.
The deal would keep Rivers in Boston through the 2015-16 season.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported via Twitter the deal was worth $35 million.
After the Celtics were eliminated from the NBA playoffs in five games vs. the Heat, Rivers confirmed he’d likely be back. Yesterday, he confirmed that a contract extension was “basically done.”
Rivers had a one-year option to return, but indicated he wanted to get a new deal done quickly to allow the team top focus on improvements for next season.
“I wanted to get this out of the way so we can concentrate on the summer and free agency,” Rivers said yesterday.
Rivers believes the Celtics can win another NBA championship if younger players are added to the roster. He also said having one of the Big 3 of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce become a top player off the bench is a possibility.
“Depending on what we can get, that is something you would have to consider,” he said.
I wonder if he would’ve walked had the Cs not been beaten so easily in the second round by LeBron and the Heat? I’m sure he doesn’t want to go out like this, and Danny Ainge is talking a big game right now as far his determination to improve the team in the offseason; I bet those two factors played a big role in his choice to come back. Also, according to Ric Bucher of ESPN, Doc’s son (who is headed to Duke) told his father it was cool with him if he kept coaching. I’m sure the 35 million bucks had a little something to do with it too.
I’m happy to see Doc coming back. I’ve never felt like he’s a brilliant coach as far as rotations and Xs and Os and all that sh!t, but he’s an incredible motivator. When they mic him up it makes me want to go hit the court and get my Kevin Garnett on–screamin’ and swearin’ at people and sh!t.