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.

The head-spinning flurry of rumors is at a standstill for the moment.
A sign-and-trade that would send Blake Griffin to the Lakers and Dwight Howard to the Clippers? A deal with Boston that could ultimately land the Clippers Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and the rights to Coach Doc Rivers’ contract?
The Clippers not willing to part with guard Eric Bledsoe or center DeAndre Jordan?
Draft picks, anyone?
Oh, and by the way, the Clippers have apparently narrowed their coaching search to two candidates, Lionel Hollins and Brian Shaw. But in the high-wire act of potential player movement, that decision is so next week.
Just as all of the trade talk could be as well. After all, how can the Lakers, with their max free-agent offer awaiting Howard’s approval, agree to anything before they are even allowed to talk to Howard at 12:01 a.m. July 1?
The Clippers, of course, still have their own housekeeping to take care of with free agent guard Chris Paul.
In terms of the Celtics and Clippers, Garnett and Rivers (wonder how he counts in the salary cap?) would be winging west if the Clippers parted with Jordan, Bledsoe and two first-round picks. Too steep.
It doesn’t end there. Bledsoe could be dangled in the direction of Indiana (in a deal involving Danny Granger) or Orlando (Arron Afflalo).

http://tinyurl.com/clipsdeal

Did injuries keep Grant Hill out of the Hall of Fame? Or does he still have a chance?

http://www.nba.com/clippers/seven-time-nba-all-star-grant-hill-retires