Both Clippers and Celtics benefit from long-awaited Doc Rivers trade

Doc Rivers had been telling friends for years that if he ever did choose to leave the Celtics, then he wouldn't coach another franchise the following season. His plan was to sit out for at least one year, out of respect for the Celtics franchise and the large role it has played in the NBA and in his own life.

But this was an unusual case. After expressing doubts that he would want to participate in Boston's plan to rebuild, Rivers told the Celtics that he was committed to returning as their coach next season. Then he was "traded,'' essentially, to the Clippers, in exchange for a future first-round pick, based on an agreement reached in principle between Boston and Los Angeles on Sunday.

Rivers' initial intention to return to the Celtics absolves him of the perception that he was forcing himself out. Instead, he was the property of the Celtics and was moved by them in return for the draft pick.

Regardless of the timing, it does not appear as if ultimatums were issued so much as all sides recognized the common interests that would be fulfilled if Rivers were exchanged for compensation from Los Angeles. The Celtics participated in, and profited from, the departure of their coach.

After many well-publicized starts and stops in recent days, the agreement was finalized Sunday. A more complicated proposal -- by which Kevin Garnett would have also been packaged to the Clippers in exchange for DeAndre Jordan -- was viewed as untenable last week by commissioner David Stern.

A subsequent trade of Garnett to the Clippers appears to be a non-starter according to NBA rules that ban salary-cap trades that are linked to coaching hires. The bottom line for the Celtics is that Rivers has turned out to be their most valuable asset -- not only did he net them a draft pick, but his departure will also save them millions in coaching salary annually.

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