The talk of the NBA over the past few days was a potential blockbuster deal between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers that would’ve sent Kevin Garnett and coach Doc Rivers out west. However, the talks are dead in the water.
According to ESPN.com, the Clips informed the Celtics on Tuesday morning (June 18) that they are pulling out of talks the the aforementioned players and coach.
At press time, both teams have no plans to speak again to discuss the deal further, and the Clippers are now preparing to move on and hire a coach this week.
The Boston Globe also confirmed, via a tweet, that Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge confirmed that the talks between the teams had ended.
Reports say talks broke down Tuesday morning when the Clippers “refused to budge” on Boston’s latest proposal — center DeAndre Jordan, straight up, for Garnett and two first-round draft picks, as compensation for allowing Rivers out of the final three years and $21 million of his contract.
The Clippers are reportedly going forward with second interviews of Byron Scott and Brian Shaw. Lionel Hollins also had a two-day interview in which he met with Sterling last week.
The team expects to hire a new coach by the end of this week, or early next week.