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With some clear mutual interest having been established, the situation has progressed to the point where the Celtics and Clippers are now engaging in talks involving Doc Rivers and players. Sources told the Herald today that, while there are still many moving parts in the process, there is now significant impetus from both sides to find common ground.
Well, that sounds like it is getting pretty far along. Though to be fair, as Bulpett points out, there's a lot of hurdles and moving pieces to this that could disrupt or derail things. Read the rest of the article for additional details.
To me, it feels like it is getting to the point where I'm not sure how we could see Rivers come back after this. He could still come back and be welcomed back. But for how long? What confidence would we have that he'd be back the next year or anytime after that?
Still, it isn't over until it is over. But if Rivers wanted it over, he could have ended it days, weeks, or months ago.
Update: Wojo confirms and adds to this rumor.
The final hurdle of a deal centers on the Clippers' willingness to include guard Eric Bledsoe into a trade package with Boston, sources said. Boston and Los Angeles are discussing a package that will send DeAndre Jordan and two first-round picks to the Celtics for Garnett and the right to hire Rivers as coach, sources said. Garnett will waive his no-trade clause to go to the Clippers, where he'll be reunited with Rivers and likely Celtics assistant Ty Lue, sources told Yahoo! Sports.
He also reports that Rivers could talk to Chris Paul as early as today and they want to get this thing done in the next couple of days or walk away for good.
This is getting very, very real.
Update: You'll note that Pierce is not called out specifically in this latest round. That doesn't mean he's "safe," just that he's floating in and out of discussions.
Pierce, of course, is still part of the equation. But he may come later because there's more flexibility with his situation.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 15, 2013