Doc Rivers Celtics Trades List That Built A Title Run
- 01. Doc Rivers Celtics trades list - quick answer
- 02. What the trade was, in one line
- 03. Context and immediate aftermath
- 04. Key dates and figures
- 05. Trades and transactions list (chronological)
- 06. Trade data table
- 07. Why fans still argue about this trade
- 08. Statistical notes and impact (estimates and sourced facts)
- 09. Representative contemporary quotes
- 10. Related roster moves and timeline context
- 11. [FAQ] - Frequently asked questions
- 12. How historians and front offices view the deal
- 13. One illustrative example
- 14. Sources and reporting
Doc Rivers Celtics trades list - quick answer
The single documented transaction widely called the "Doc Rivers trade" sent head coach Doc Rivers from the Boston Celtics to the Los Angeles Clippers in June 2013, with the Celtics receiving the Clippers' unprotected 2015 first-round draft pick (which became the 28th pick, used on R.J. Hunter).
What the trade was, in one line
On June 22-24, 2013, the Celtics agreed to allow coach Doc Rivers to sign with the Clippers in exchange for a 2015 first-round pick; the Clippers assumed Rivers' remaining contract (three years, roughly $21 million) and the league approved the compensation arrangement.
Context and immediate aftermath
The move was notable because trading a coach is extremely rare in the NBA, and the deal took place amid larger roster maneuvering around Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce; reports at the time show the league monitored subsequent player-trade talks between the two clubs to avoid any appearance of a linked transaction.
Key dates and figures
- June 22, 2013 - Reports of an agreement in principle that the Clippers would acquire Doc Rivers and send a 2015 first-round pick to Boston.
- June 23-24, 2013 - Official announcements and press releases from teams confirming the arrangement.
- 2015 Draft - The pick conveyed in 2015 and was used by the Celtics at 28th overall on R.J. Hunter.
Trades and transactions list (chronological)
- June 22-24, 2013 - Celtics allow Doc Rivers to join Los Angeles Clippers; Celtics receive an unprotected 2015 first-round pick; Clippers assume Rivers' remaining contract.
- June 2015 - The 2015 first-round pick from the Clippers is conveyed to the Celtics and used at 28th overall.
- Summer-Fall 2013 - Celtics complete separate roster moves (not part of the Rivers-for-pick deal) that included trading veteran players such as Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in a blockbuster Brooklyn deal; those moves were related in timing but executed as independent player trades.
Trade data table
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Transaction | Doc Rivers to Los Angeles Clippers; Celtics receive 2015 first-round pick. |
| Agreement reported | June 22, 2013 (reports); team announcements June 23-24, 2013. |
| Contract taken on | Clippers assume ~3 years, $21 million left on Rivers contract. |
| Pick protection | Initially contentious; Celtics obtained an unprotected 2015 first-round pick. |
| Pick conveyed | 2015 pick, 28th overall (used on R.J. Hunter). |
Why fans still argue about this trade
Fans debate whether the compensation (a late first-round pick) matched the value of losing a proven long-term coach like Doc Rivers, and whether the timing - immediately before the Celtics retooled by trading veterans - influenced Boston's subsequent rebuilding path.
Statistical notes and impact (estimates and sourced facts)
Doc Rivers had coached the Celtics to a 2008 championship as head coach and finished his Boston tenure with a multi-year playoff record that made him one of the league's better-regarded coaches; Boston's decision to accept a 2015 first-rounder (28th pick) as compensation has been cited as a conservative return in retrospective analyses.
The unprotected pick ended at 28th overall in 2015; the player selected, R.J. Hunter, appeared in roughly 36 games during his rookie season and was out of the NBA within two seasons - a fact often used by critics who argue the pick produced limited on-court value for Boston.
Representative contemporary quotes
"The Celtics will receive a future first-round pick from the Clippers in exchange for allowing Rivers to depart," the team press release said when the deal was announced.
League reporting at the time noted that commissioner and league officials were watching related talks closely, with concerns that a player trade involving Garnett could be perceived as coupled to the Rivers transaction - a sensitivity that increased fan and media scrutiny.
Related roster moves and timeline context
The Rivers-for-pick deal occurred during a summer in which Boston shifted from a veteran-contender roster toward a multi-pick rebuild; shortly after the Rivers move, the Celtics completed a blockbuster trade sending marquee veterans, which produced multiple first-round picks and accelerated a roster transition.
[FAQ] - Frequently asked questions
How historians and front offices view the deal
From a front-office perspective, converting an expensive coach contract into a future draft asset is a common salary-cap and roster-management tactic; Boston's broader strategy that summer prioritized multiple picks and cap flexibility, which management believed could outvalue a single coach retention.
From a historical lens, the rarity of coach trades and the link to major roster changes that followed keeps the Rivers trade prominent in franchise narratives and fan debates about value extraction and timing.
One illustrative example
Consider the numerical ROI thought-process: if a late first-round pick carries a historical ~15-20% chance of becoming a multi-year rotation player, then an unprotected late pick is usually seen as a low-probability, high-variance asset - acceptable to a team prioritizing financial flexibility and draft capital over short-term coaching continuity.
Sources and reporting
Contemporary reporting and league coverage from ESPN, the Los Angeles Times, CBS, and subsequent draft reports document the agreement, the financial terms assumed by the Clippers, and the pick conveyance in 2015.
Key concerns and solutions for Doc Rivers Celtics Trades List That Built A Title Run
What exactly did the Celtics get for Doc Rivers?
The Celtics received the Los Angeles Clippers' unprotected 2015 first-round draft pick as compensation for allowing Doc Rivers to take the Clippers' head coach job; the Clippers also assumed the remaining value of Rivers' contract.
When was the trade announced?
Reports of the agreement appeared around June 22, 2013, with official team announcements and press coverage through June 24, 2013.
Which draft pick did Boston ultimately use from that trade?
The pick conveyed in 2015 and was the 28th overall selection; Boston used it on R.J. Hunter in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Was the Rivers trade linked to player trades like Garnett/Pierce?
Teams discussed other moves around the same time, but the league flagged any appearance of coupling coach compensation with player trades; the Garnett/Pierce transactions were executed as separate player trades, though the timing made them part of the broader offseason narrative.
Did fans and analysts think Boston got fair value?
Many fans and analysts later argued Boston received modest return for a coach of Rivers' stature, pointing to the late lottery pick and the small NBA contribution of the resulting selection as reasons the compensation looked light in hindsight.