Boston Celtics excuse Doc Rivers from Draft night to be with son Austin Rivers – NBA Update
The Boston Celtics are gearing up for what will be a very important NBA Draft 2012 for them but they will be going into the night without head coach Doc Rivers. Rivers has been allowed the time off in order to be with his family, specifically his son Austin
Rivers who is up for the draft.
Austin played at Duke in the NCAA tournament and is an expected top ten pick. His father Doc Rivers, who was himself an NBA player before becoming a head coach, will be by his son’s side for what is probably the most important night of his career so far.
Boston Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge confirmed on Wednesday that Doc had been excused from Boston.
"He's heading to New York with Austin," general manager Danny Ainge said Wednesday, "which is where he should be."
Ainge knows that the draft is a very important night for the Celtics, who have just a handful of players under contract for next season and will be looking to add as many options as they can. They have some late picks in the first round but not enough pieces
to move up in the draft.
Ainge though made clear that Doc isn’t being overworked because of these concerns.
"He's in a happy place," Ainge said at the team's workout facility. "He's loose and laid back and playing golf."
Rivers will give his input via phone to the Celtics anyway, so Ainge isn’t too worried.
"It will be just like he's in the back room here," Ainge said.
Another matter still unresolved for Boston is the future of legendary power forward Kevin Garnett. Garnett is a free agent and has not yet made a decision on his future.
"We're having conversations with Kevin, but we don't have any answers on whether he's coming back or not," Ainge said. "I don't think it will happen quickly."
Danny admitted that it would be better for Boston if Kevin came to a decision quickly.
"The sooner we get Kevin done, the better it will be for us, and the sooner we have an idea of the direction we need to go," Ainge said.
He did add though that the Celtics do not want to rush the former Minnesota Timberwolves super star.
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