Donald Sterling & Doc Rivers Clippers News 2014: Will Coach Quit Team if Disgraced Owner Returns Next Season?
As if the offseason couldn't get any worse for Los Angeles Clippers fans, it took another blow.
Clippers CEO Richard Parsons testified Tuesday that Rivers told him that if Donald Sterling remains with the team, then Rivers will quit and not return next season.
Losing Rivers would be a big blow for this team. Rivers coached the team to a 57-25 record last season and made it to the second round. He actually has the highest win percentage in franchise history. For a historically poor franchise that is finally heading in the right direction, this could be very unfortunate for Clippers fans.
Sterling obviously became one of the most hated owners in sports history after his racist comments, mostly directed at African-Americans and specifically Magic Johnson. Sterling has a history of settling and finding a way to avoid the biggest punishments. Even though Sterling received a lifetime ban from all NBA arenas and can no longer make any executive decisions for basketball operations, he still remains the Clippers owner.
Sterling remaining the Clippers owner has obvious had an effect on the players. During the NBA postseason, multiple players protested and voiced their opinions and dissatisfaction for the 80-year-old owner.
This free agency period hasn't been favorable toward the Clippers either. No elite players have shown any interest in signing with team knowing that Sterling is still the owner. Rivers said just weeks ago regarding free agents signing with the teams, "it has hurt us" because no owner was able to be present with him.
Rivers is a former NBA Coach of the Year winner and an NBA Champion as a coach. If Rivers were to truly "quit" as team CEO Richard Parson says, then options would be extremely limited. The Los Angeles Lakers still haven't hired a head coach. Is there a chance they know Rivers is leaving? Unlikely, but possible.
At this point it's clear that no high-profile free agents want to play for the Clippers, and Rivers may even leave. The only way things can get worse is if the players on the Clippers decide to leave. Point Guard Chris Paul III and Blake Griffin could leave the team once they become free agents.
Businessman Steve Ballmer won the bid to buy the Clippers for $2 billion on June 4. Sterling and Ballmer have met, but no final sale decisions have been made yet. For up-to-date sports news, scores, and more, follow Latin Post Sports on Twitter