Doc Rivers insists he still needs time to “dexox” and is not sure if he will return to coach the Boston Celtics next season.
In an interview with the Boston Globe, Rivers somewhat disputed the earlier claims of president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, who earlier told the paper he was all but sure Rivers would be returning to man the sidelines for a 10th season.
“I’d rather not say,” Rivers told The Globe when directly asked where he stood in his decision-making process. Rivers has three years remaining on a deal that still owes him some $21 million in salary.
The Globe reported that although he admits he has been unavailable to the media since the Celtics season ended in a first-round playoff flameout five weeks ago, the coach insists he has been present for pre-draft workouts and has discussed the direction of the team with Ainge on several occasions.
One issue that almost certainly came up is what to do with free agent forward Paul Pierce. A perennial All-Star who has spent his entire career in Boston, Pierce may soon find himself on the outside looking in as the team considers rebuilding around a core of Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, Jeff Green and Jared Sullinger.
The Globe reported, with the draft in less than three weeks and the decision on Pierce required by the end of the month, Rivers is expected to make his final decision over the next several weeks.
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