One of the Celtics' biggest offseason questions was answered Wednesday as head coach Doc Rivers reached a final decision: He's staying in Boston, according to the Boston Herald.
The Herald's Steve Bulpett first reported that Rivers will not be opting out of the final year of his contract in Boston and he will be back on the Celtics' bench in 2010-11 for his seventh season as the team's head coach.
There was speculation throughout the Celtics' two-month postseason run that Rivers was leaning toward stepping down, opting to spend more time with his wife and kids. Rivers was faced with the possibility of leaving $5.5 million on the table and walking away, but he remained mum on the subject during the playoffs, not giving an indication either way.
So what does this mean for the rest of the team?
Paul Pierce, a 12-year veteran in Celtic green, lobbied for Rivers to stay. So did Ray Allen, who arrived in Boston in 2007 and immediately won a championship with Rivers leading the way.
Pierce is now a free agent after opting to terminate the final year of his contract with the Celtics. Allen will hit the open market as well. But now that their coach is back in the fold and ready to compete for a championship again in 2011, the C's veterans will have more incentive than ever to stay put — as if playing in Game 7 of the NBA Finals wasn't already enough.
