One of the biggest offseason questions surrounding the Celtics is the future of head coach Doc Rivers. It’s beginning to sound like that question will be answered fairly soon.
According to The Associated Press, Rivers and the Celtics are working on a multiyear deal to keep Rivers in Boston. The deal is reportedly a two- or three-year pact, says a source close to the negotiations.
Rivers, whose contract expires at the end of this season, indicated that he would likely return to the Celtics in the moments following his team’s Game 5 loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals that ended Boston’s season.
“I’m leaning heavily toward coming back,” he said in his postgame news conference. “I haven’t made that decision, but I can tell you I probably will. I’ve come to realize that over the last couple of weeks. I’m a Celtic, and I love our guys.”
Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, speaking on WEEI on Thursday, expressed confidence that Rivers would return for the 2011-12 season and beyond.
“I think Doc is coming back,” Ainge said. “We talk regularly, and I got that impression a few weeks ago. I think we’ll get something done, and we could get something done very shortly on a long-term contract.”
