Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge rebuffed the Brooklyn Nets when they inquired about interviewing Doc Rivers for their open coaching position, according to ESPN Boston.
Rivers had been one of the coaches on Brooklyn’s short list, and he was reportedly considering not coming back to Boston after this season ended. Since Rivers is still under contract, the Nets would need permission from Ainge & the Celtics to interview Rivers, who has been Boston’s coach since the 2004-05 season.
It was unlikely that the Celtics would allow Rivers to interview with a division rival, but their flat refusal would indicate that they expect Rivers will be around for the duration of his contract, which runs through the 2015-16 season and pays him a total of $21 million.
Ainge refused to publicly comment on Brooklyn’s interest. “Doc has told me he’s coming back,” Ainge told ESPN Boston. “I talk to him almost every day about our team and what we are going to do moving forward.”
ESPN Boston — Danny Ainge says no to Nets
