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The latest update is that the Celtics are willing to cave on the demand to dump salary on the Clippers and will instead take a second future first round pick. Here's what Wojo says.
After pushing for the Clippers to take back long-term contracts, the Celtics relented and have shown willingness to complete the deal for DeAndre Jordan and two first-round draft picks, sources said. The Clippers are willing to give the Celtics Jordan and one draft pick, but were resisting a second future pick, sources said. The two teams are planning to talk again on Tuesday morning, and the fragile negotiations could climax over the draft pick compensation, sources said.
ESPN has a somewhat different report.
Sources -- Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics continue talks but no deal yet - ESPN
ESPN.com reported earlier Monday that the Clippers' willingness instead to take on the contract of Celtics guard Courtney Lee or teammate Jason Terry -- instead of parting with Bledsoe -- would likely be enough to convince Boston to go ahead with the separate deals involving Rivers and Garnett. But sources said Monday night that one holdup is Boston's hope that the Clippers will actually take on the contracts of both players, something sources say L.A. is unwilling to do. The Clippers, according to sources, are prepared to trade Jordan and Caron Butler's $8 million expiring contract in exchange for Garnett and either Lee or Terry. Garnett would need to waive his no-trade clause to seal the deal. In a technically separate transaction, L.A. would also send at least one first-round draft pick to the Celtics to convince them to let Rivers out of the three years (and $21 million) left on his contract.
So as near as I can tell, the simplified negotiations have gone something like this.
Celtics: How about Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce for Blake Griffin, Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Jordan, and Caron Butler's expiring salary?
Clippers: Ha ha, umm, no.
Celtics: Ok, fine. How about just Doc and Garnett for Bledsoe, Jordan, and two first rounders?
Clippers: Nah, how about Doc and Garnett for just Jordan and one first rounder?
(staring)
Celtics: Will you take back Courtney Lee and Jason Terry?
Clippers: Nah.
(staring)
Celtics: Will you at least give us a second first rounder?
Clippers: We'll think about it.
Celtics: ...and either Lee or Terry?
(staring)
I think that's where we stand now (oversimplified for dramatic effect).
It is a little hard to reconcile the two reports between Wojo and ESPN. I really hope the deal isn't just Doc and KG for Jordan and a pick. I'd feel a tiny bit better if there were two picks. I'd feel a little better if it also included dumping Jason Terry.
I can't find it right now, but I swear I saw somewhere that the two picks would be 2014 and 2017. Next year's pick would be the back end of a good draft. Nothing all that special. Maybe we'd get lucky and the Clippers would remember how to screw things up by 2017 though. We'll see.
Stay tuned for updates.
Also see (great minds think alike): Sacks The Negotiator - Clips Nation