With his contract to become the Clippers’ next head coach having been given the seal of approval from the NBA, the club will introduce Doc Rivers at a press conference in Playa Vista opn Wednesday.
Rivers’ title will officially be senior vice president of basketball operations and head coach, the Clippers announced on Tuesday.
The drawn-out process to lure Rivers to L.A. started during trade talks between the Clippers and Boston Celtics. The Celtics eventually worked an agreement to buy out the final three years and $21 million left on his contract, which are the same terms he agreed with to coach the Clippers.
Rivers was 416-305 in nine seasons with the Celtics, who won the 2008 NBA crown and reached the 2010 Finals. Rivers, who played for the Clippers in 1991-92, will be the 16 th coach in L.A. Clippers history. He replaces Vinny Del Negro, who was told by the club he would not be rehired with his contract running out.
Del Negro guided the Clippers to their best season in 2012-13, winning 56 games and the Pacific Division title before falling to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.