Austin Rivers is coming to the Los Angeles Clippers, where the guard will play under his father and team coach Doc Rivers.
The Clippers, Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns agreed to a deal Thursday that will send Rivers to L.A., current Clipper Reggie Bullock to the Suns and two players to the Celtics — Phoenix center Shavlik Randolph and Clippers forward Chris Douglas-Roberts. The Celtics also will receive a 2017 secnod-round draft pick from the Clippers and a $2.4 million trade exception.
The Celtics acquired Rivers on Monday as part of the three-way deal Boston struck last weekend with Memphis and New Orleans to send Jeff Green to the Grizzlies. But the Celtics never planned on keeping Rivers, one of a flurry of moves Boston has made in an effort to rebuild the team.
Rivers had been averaging 6.8 points, 2.5 assists and 1.9 rebounds for the Pelicans. As Clippers president of basketball operations, the elder Rivers had the authority to sign off on acquiring his 22-year-old son.
Last weekend, Doc Rivers had said he would be open to coaching Austin.
“I think a year ago I probably wouldn’t,” he said. “I think I would (now) for sure. I think this team could handle that.”
Austin Rivers would become the first son to play for his father in the NBA. Coby Karl was briefly a member of the Nuggets in 2010 under father-coach George Karl, but he didn’t play during a stint that coincided with his father being on leave for treatment of throat cancer.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Thumbnail photo via David Banks/USA TODAY Sports Images
