The fallout from the Los Angeles Clippers’ stunning defeat in the Western Conference Semifinals to the Denver Nuggets continues, with the Clippers announcing the departure of head coach Doc Rivers. While changes were expected after the team lost a 3-1 series lead to the Nuggets, it was still surprising to see Rivers go. The 58-year old mentor has been with Los Angeles since 2013 and has led the franchise to unprecedented success, compiling a 356-208 win-loss record and six playoff appearances in his seven seasons. But the Clippers have one year before both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George can become free agents, and felt they needed to make a drastic change before a crucial season.
While the Clippers will now focus on replacing a coach that has had success with the team, Doc Rivers now becomes a free agent coach with a growing list of accomplishments. That includes a Coach of the Year award while with the Orlando Magic, a championship and two Finals appearances with the Boston Celtics, and multiple playoff appearances with all the teams that he’s coached. More importantly, Rivers is respected by players around the league, with Leonard joining the Clippers in part because he wanted to play for him. There are multiple teams with coaching vacancies, and considering Rivers’ accomplishments, he likely won’t be a free agent coach for long. But which teams and players is he best suited to coach?
5. Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers will enter next season with questions about how far the team can go with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons as its stars. Embiid and Simmons' third year as Philadelphia’s co-stars began with high expectations after acquiring Al Horford from the Celtics and signing Tobias Harris to a massive extension. But after a regular season that saw them finish sixth in the East, the Sixers were promptly swept out of the first round by the Celtics, leading to coach Brett Brown’s dismissal. Like the Clippers job, coaching the Sixers will include the burden of expectations not just to reach the playoffs, but to contend for titles.
Fortunately, Doc Rivers is no stranger to handling expectations, having experienced them with the Celtics and Clippers. More than anything, he served as a leader for the Clippers, helping the franchise in the aftermath of the Donald Sterling saga and helping turn it into a contender. If there’s anyone who can convince the Sixers’ pair of All-Stars to coexist, it’s Rivers, whether it’s encouraging to Simmons to shoot more from the perimeter or challenging Embiid to get to another level. Players like Horford and Harris will also want to play for a veteran coach and former player like him. The question, however, is whether Rivers would want to take on another high-pressure job similar to the one he just had with the Clippers.
4. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers have been mired in the first round for the past five seasons, including a sweep at the hands of the Miami Heat in this year’s playoffs, which led to the dismissal of coach Nate McMillan after four seasons. McMillan compiled a 183-136 win-loss record with the Pacers, but only managed to win three out of 19 postseason games. The Pacers coaching job will not carry the same expectations as coaching the Sixers, but Rivers will still be expected to improve and have deeper postseason runs than in previous years.
Fortunately, he’ll have a crop of young and talented players to help him get there, including All-Stars Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo. Their stars is surrounded by a promising supporting cast of Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner, and TJ Warren, who is coming off a strong showing in the NBA Bubble. Rivers can help with the development of these players, and if the rumors are true that Oladipo reportedly wants to leave, he might be the coach who can convince him to run it back with the Pacers. Indiana, however, still seems to be a piece away from being a serious contender in the East, making its coaching vacancy a less enticing job than others.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Coaching the Thunder would reunite Doc Rivers with Chris Paul, his point guard with the Clippers, who is fresh from leading a young group to the fifth seed in the West and a surprising playoff run. Oklahoma City has promising young players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rookie Luguentz Dort, and veterans like Dennis Schroder, Steven Adams, and Danilo Gallinari, who is set to hit free agency. With Paul leading the way once more and Rivers guiding them, it could be enough for another postseason run.
The problem, however, is whether another playoff run is in line with what the organization wants for the team. The Thunder received several draft picks in the next few years from the trade that brought Paul George to the Clippers, and Paul has been linked to trades since his resurgence with the Thunder. Despite an encouraging first season with Paul as their floor general, the Thunder could be headed for a rebuild sooner rather than later, which might not be what Rivers wants for his next coaching job after contending for titles with the Celtics and Clippers.
2. Houston Rockets
As soon as it was reported that Rivers was leaving the Clippers, the Houston Rockets were among the first teams that were reportedly interested in acquiring him after the departure of Mike D’Antoni. Like the Sixers job, coaching the Rockets will mean taking on heightened expectations. After all, Houston was able to push the Golden State Warriors to seven games in 2018 and would have made the Finals if not for a Chris Paul injury. Despite a second-round exit at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers, the Rockets still have two MVPs in James Harden and Russell Westbrook, and shooters like Eric Gordon, Robert Covington, and PJ Tucker.
As with Philly, Houston also faced questions about the fit of its two stars, and there have been calls to move Westbrook a year after the Rockets moved on from Chris Paul. Rivers, however, can help work things out between Harden and Westbrook. Throughout his coaching career, he’s shown an ability to reach and work with his stars, from Tracy McGrady in Orlando to Kawhi Leonard in Los Angeles. But if he takes on the Rockets job, Rivers will inherit a lineup that went all-in on D’Antoni’s small ball concept. Will he embrace it as much as his predecessor? Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey may need to make roster tweaks according to Rivers’ preferences, and they may not have the players or assets to make a lot of moves.
1. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans can offer Doc Rivers something he’s never had in 21 years of coaching – the chance to work with and develop an ascendant talent. With the Magic, Celtics, and Clippers, Rivers coached stars in their prime like McGrady, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Leonard. In New Orleans, he will have the opportunity to guide Zion Williamson, who is sure to be a future star in the league. The rest of the lineup is also full of promise: Brandon Ingram is already an All-Star, while Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and Jaxxon Hayes are young talents who are making an impact. Jrue Holiday and JJ Redick, meanwhile, are veterans that are needed on a young team, with Redick having previously played for Rivers with the Clippers.
More importantly, mentoring the young Pelicans will not carry the same win-now expectations that coaching teams like the Sixers and Rockets have. New Orleans will not enter the next season with people immediately expecting a deep playoff run. What is expected, however, is the continued development of Williamson, Ingram, and the team’s young players, especially on defense. They can bide their time and be ready to take on the best of the Western Conference after a couple of years. If there is a coaching job that will give him an opportunity to stay for the foreseeable future, it’s this one.
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