Danny Granger or Arron Afflalo could ultimately nix the reported deal to send Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett to the Clippers as a package deal.
Although talks between the Celtics and Clippers are not totally dead, separate conversations by the Clippers with the Pacers and Magic could decrease the chances of Rivers and/or Garnett heading west. That’s because the Clippers are in discussions to send Eric Bledsoe to Indiana for Granger or Orlando for Afflalo, ESPN reports, and if either of those trades goes down, the Celtics could get up from the bargaining table.
Bledsoe is coveted by the Celtics, who insist that he be included in a package with DeAndre Jordan and draft picks for the rights to Rivers and Garnett, who are both under contract for multiple years. Bledsoe is a free agent at the end of the 2013-14 season, and it is assumed the Clippers will trade him before then. However, they want to keep him until they are absolutely sure Chris Paul will re-sign this summer, when they then can include him in another deal to bolster the team.
If Bledsoe is sent elsewhere as part of another trade, the Celtics and Clippers would not be expected to cut off contact. But it would require the Celtics to lessen their demands. Either way, some sort of resolution is expected by Tuesday or Wednesday, according to ESPN.
Related articles
- Report: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Doc Rivers to Clippers for Blake Griffin, Eric Bledsoe Deal Being ‘Talked About’ (nesn.com)
- Report: Celtics, Clippers ‘Deep’ in Talks to Send Kevin Garnett, Doc Rivers to Los Angeles (nesn.com)
- Report: Doc Rivers Could Return to Broadcasting After Clippers Deal Falls Through (nesn.com)
