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Doc River Signs 5-Year Deal With Celtics
NBA Coach Agrees to Multi-Year Deal With Team
"I think Doc is the best coach in the league, so I think it's great for us, to have him around," said Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge.
A source told ESPN that the deal is expected to pay Rivers more than $6 million per year.
A multi-year deal to keep Rivers in Boston had reportedly been on the table for some time, but the 49-year-old coach, who has been coaching in the NBA since 1999, was taking some time to decide what he wanted to do.
"Doc has always known that we've wanted him and that offer was on the table," said Ainge. "I would say that, early in the playoffs, as the playoffs first started, we started that conversation again. He understood it was important for me to know what he wanted to do, because [the offseason] is a long process and there's a lot of things going on in the summer. He spent some time with his family and made his decision a little earlier this time."
If the Big Four of Boston (Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett) stick around as well, there is a possibility that the Celtics will try at least once more to make a run for the coveted NBA Finals title.
But Ainge says Rivers is looking beyond just one more title.
"Doc wants to be here," said Ainge. "It's not all because he thinks that over the next five years we're going to have the best team in the NBA. He feels like he's part of this franchise, he likes working here, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to help us be successful."
(Sources: ESPN.com)
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