Photo by Winslow Townson/AP

Doc Rivers will not manage the Brooklyn Nets.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, who has long praised his head coach Doc Rivers, has denied the Brooklyn Nets access to speak with Rivers about the open head coaching position, according to Jackie MacMullan of ESPN.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise after the Nets targeted Rivers as well as Phil Jackson for their candidates in previous weeks. Rivers is under contract for three years and $21 million.

A large amount of skepticism around the latest chatter with Rivers and the future of the C’s has been evident, but the air should be clear after Ainge’s comments regarding his man in charge on Thursday.

“Doc has told me he’s coming back,” Ainge said. “I talk to him almost every day about our team and what we are going to do moving forward.”

Whether or not, Rivers decides to confirm in his own voice remains to be an unknown. Nonetheless, Rivers is under contract for three more years and it seems like the management doesn’t vision him on a different sideline.

Photo via SB Nation

Carmelo Anthony was competing with agonizing pain in the 2013 NBA playoffs.

Anthony, who received the 2013 NBA scoring title, injured his left labrum in Game 5 of the first round of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Boston Celtics, and recently, the small forward received news that he may need to pursue surgery on Wednesday, according to New York Daily News.

The nine-year forward may have experienced a significant injury, but his recent numbers against the Indiana Pacers (20-plus points) was astonishing. With his injury having a say in this, there is nothing no more to but tip the hat and show admiration for what pain he experienced.

Feature image via Associated Press/Michael Conroy

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Pablo Prigioni could return to Spain.

Prigioni, who played a huge role in the 2012-13 season with the New York Knicks averaging 4.5 points, 3.2 assists while shooting over 43 percent from beyond the arc, could face a tough decision due to wife’s wishes to move back to Spain, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.

The Argentinian guard competed in the Spanish League prior to moving to the States. In his first year with Mike Woodson’s team, the 36-year-old registered for 3.5 points, 3.0 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game this past season.

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Avery Bradley and Tyson Chandler received what they deserve on Monday.

Bradley, who finished with 1.3 steals per game, was the vocal point of the Boston Celtics 2012-13 season. The two-year guard has been noted as one of the best on-ball defenders in the game, and was respectively honored with his first All-Defensive Team homage.

Chandler, the 2012 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, registered for 1.1 blocks and 10.7 rebounds per game this past season. He becomes the first Knick to be rewarded with first-team honors since Charles Oakley in 1994.

Check out the rest of the star-studded, defensive lineups below.

First team:

Guard: Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies
Guard: Chris Paul, LA Clippers
Forward: LeBron James, Miami Heat
Forward: Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder
Center: Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls
Center: Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks

Second team:

Guard: Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics
Guard: Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
Forward: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Forward: Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Center: Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies

Photo via Flickr/Absolute_Madness73

Paul Pierce may have played his final game as a Boston Celtic.

Pierce, who has been a 14-year Celtic throughout his NBA career, could be on his way out of Boston, according to Comcast New England’s Greg Dickerson. The Truth has an $15 million option for the 2013-14 season.

Dickerson went on to say in the show that he thinks and hear from sources close to Pierce that may not be in a Celtics uniform come next season, along with possibly Kevin Garnett.

“I don’t think they will (bring Pierce back),” Dickerson said Sunday on CSNNE. “And I know that the company that Paul Pierce hangs around in, they do not believe – and I don’t think Paul Pierce believes – that he is going to be brought back next year at $15 million. I know for a fact that people around Paul Pierce have pretty much resigned themselves to the fact that he’s played his final game in a Boston Celtics uniform. Again, Paul wants to stay – obviously for $15 million, but he wants to finish his career in a Celtics uniform.”

This statement by no means is far-fetched. It is certainly possible No. 34 has taken his last steps onto the Red Auerbach Parquet.

Photo by Brian Babineau/Getty Images

The Los Angeles Clippers have had talks in February with the Boston Celtics regarding 17-year veteran power forward Kevin Garnett, which is why these recent trade discussions should not be a surprise to anyone.

There are various reasons why the C’s would do the trade, but then there are reasons why the Clips would not do this deal, and here they are.

Reasons why the Celtics would do this trade:

Add bulk down low- The acquisition of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan would provide assistance to the C’s lack of rebounding. In the 2013 season, the Celtics were ranked 29th in the NBA with 39.3 rebounds per game. Bodies like Shavlik Randolph, an ailing Chris Wilcox and Garnett were evident to the shortage of paint presence.

Adding a 6-foot-11 center and 6-foot-10 specimen to the painted area will assess the need for rebounding without hesitation. Griffin averaged 8.3 rebounds per game this season while Jordan registered 7.2 rebounds.

Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett would be gone-  The Celtics have been holding onto the Pierce-Garnett era like a 20-year-old unwilling to give up his first, rough automobile, and it’s time for general manager Danny Ainge to move on from the old and drag in the new. In any starting five, Jeff Green, Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo are added to the mix, and with the aging engines of these two Hall of Famers the brakes are put on so they can catch up.

The Green team had an average age of 27.5 years old in the 2012-13 campaign, but two of their starters are 35 years old and over. To snag younger players with the likes of Griffin, Eric Bledsoe and Jordan must have Ainge’s eyes stuck on a bright future.

Not only would it decrease the average age, but increase Boston’s payroll for the new guys. Garnett and Pierce are due a combined total of $28 million over the 2013 season. Granted a hefty amount will go to Griffin and his $7 million, but the Celtics would be satisfied giving that kind of money to that kind of talent.

Eric Bledsoe’s potential- In the 2013 playoffs, Chris Paul touched upon his backup point guard saying Bledsoe will start on an NBA team in the near future.

Is the future with the Celtics?

This past playoffs was rough to watch from a Celtics fan standpoint. A lack of point guard was known, and many realized Rajon Rondo’s presence was missed. If Eric Bledsoe comes to Boston, is Rondo’s time leading the C’s done?

The 23-year-old point guard has created some steam in his short NBA career and many have been keeping a quick eye on his play. Bledsoe, who was a highly coveted guard out of Kentucky, posted 8.5 points, 3.1 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game.

Reasons why the Clippers do not pull the trigger:

Pierce, Garnett, Rivers and who else?- The Clippers would make a huge mistake in pursuing such a trade. 

In the proposed trade the Clippers would give up Griffin, Bledsoe, Jordan and Butler, and would receive Pierce, Garnett, and Doc Rivers. But who else would be on their depth chart?

Chris Paul, who is a free agent in July, will most likely test the free agent market, and if the Clips decide to go along with the trade it would leave them with a limited roster including 36-year-old point guard Chauncey Billups, 36-year-old Garnett, 35-year-old Pierce, 33-year-old Lamar Odom and other complimentary players. I don’t know if that would sound appealing to the seven-year guard, and it would be beyond shocking if the Clips make this move if they want to keep Paul around.

Blake Griffin is too valuable to the team- Griffin has been known to be one of the most versatile power forwards in the game, and to give him up for a bunch of aging guys and a coach who may not be willing to manage after a few seasons would be a crime.

The second-year power forward has made his presence known in the NBA. His production game in and game out has been staggering. Griffin’s ability to create his own shot in the post while knocking the 10-12-foot jumper has been a true talent of his.

Griffin averaged 18.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game in the regular season.

Franchise transformation- Trading away young players for old figures is a crime in any franchise.

If or when general manager Gary Sacks makes the call, he better think twice of what he is doing to his team. While the Clips would receive one of the best NBA coaches in recent history, the players in return have little to show for in their final years of their respective contracts.

Not only could Los Angeles lose Griffin and Jordan, but CP3 may work his way out of town.

Whether this trade goes down or not, the Celtics are willing to move their aging figures this summer.

Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics are stirring up blockbuster trade rumors yet again.

Garnett, who was a part of talks regarding Lob City in February, has recently been rumored in another Celtics-Clippers trade. In a seven-man trade, head coach Doc Rivers, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett would be sent to the Clips for Blake Griffin, Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Jordan and Caron Butler, according to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith on First Take Monday morning.

There is no evidence if there is any weight behind these talks, but if this deal does go down, it would be a game changer for both teams involved. Stay tuned.

In late April

“Sources told ESPN.com that the Raptors — now being run by former Los Angeles-based sports mogul Tim Leiweke — regarded the Seattle group that was trying to buy the Kings as the biggest threat to preventing Jackson from seriously considering their pitch.

But now that the Kings appear poised to stay in Sacramento instead of being sold to the consortium led by Jackson fan Chris Hansen, sources say that the Raptors will be pursuing Jackson aggressively this week, believing that they rank as Jackson’s most attractive current option for a new career in management now that he can reunite with Leiweke.”

If it makes our Raptor fans feel better, Jackson is a great coach, but it still would have taken at least three more years to make the Raptors a playoff threat with the amount of talent the Knicks, Nets, and Celtics have on their rosters currently  But the off-season’s not over yet so keep your head up.

Go watch the new Jurassic Park 3D, at least you can see the Raptors kicking butt in something until next season.

Collins had one year and $4.5 million left on his contact before agreeing to his new deal with Philadelphia, and will start his new consulting position right away. Collin’s first order of business will be giving the 76’ers advice on who should replace him as head coach.

Philadelphia has announced its intent to interview three headline coaches so far: Brian Shaw, Mike Malone, and Jeff Hornacek.

Philly.com’s John Mitchell wrote about who Philadelphia will be trying to interview for their vacant position, Shaw’s named seemed to generate a lot of internest.

“Shaw’s name has come up frequently as a potential head coach in recent seasons.”

Although Mike Malone has been a part to Mark Jackson and the Golden State Warriors success this season, Shaw seems to be the most qualified choice at this point in the interview process.

Shaw was a point guard for the 3-time NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. He also led the Orlando Magic to the finals in 1995.

Jeff Hornacek had a successful career as a player but the understanding of that game that comes with a point guard is incomparable. For example, Doc Rivers and Mark Jackson and are two of the best coaches in the league right now. Even the Miami Heat’s Eric Spoelstra played point guard in college and was a West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year in 1989.

Shaw also has the most coaching experience in the NBA. More importantly he spent 4 years playing and 7 years coaching under Phil Jackson, arguably the best coach in NBA history. With the Lakers Shaw won another two championships in 2009-10. If Shaw becomes the 76’ers head coach he will know how to not only win playoff games, but also win championships. Both Malone and Horacek have failed to do that in their careers.

Another problem that needs to be addressed with Philadelphia is the elephant in the room, Andrew Bynum. Shaw is the best candidate out of these three to get the 7-foot million-dollar investment back on track. Shaw both played and coached with Bynum and will have the best chance of any available coach to make Bynum produce on the court.

Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Despite an incredible 20-0 run in the fourth quarter by Jeff Green and the Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks made shots when it mattered most and sealed the deal 88-80 to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Knicks dominated the court on Friday night. In the first quarter, Mike Woodson’s team held the C’s to shoot 25 percent from the field, while allowing 10 points.

Pablo Prigioni, who was essential in the regular season, set the tone for the Knicks early knocking in three shots from downtown. Prigioni finished 5-for-9 from the field (4-6 from three) cashing in 14 points.

Carmelo Anthony, who is the 2013 scoring champion, was silent with two early fouls, but his supporting cast – including Prigioni — brought a commanding performance to the floor. J.R. Smith, who was honored 2013 Sixth Man of the Year, recorded 13 points and seven rebounds. Smith’s co-pilot, Iman Shumpert, contributed in every aspect of the game publishing 17 points (3-3 from downtown),  six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Celtics really had no answer for Anthony and company in the first three quarters, but in the final period of play this team came to compete. In the fourth, Jeff Green came out firing on all cylinders scoring Boston’s 11 of 33 points, became the heart of the C’s. Green registered for 21 points and five rebounds.

Kevin Garnett, who has been subjected to retire at the end of this season, and Paul Pierce, who will be in his final year of his four-year contract next season, left their green blood, unfiltered sweat and tears to the Red Auerbach Parquet Friday night.

Garnett was consistent throughout the game after recording a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, The Truth could not find any groove in his potentially final game in a Celtics uniform. Pierce concluded with a troubling shooting display of 4-for-18 registering for 14 points.

At the end of the night, Shumpert’s ability to shoot the three gave the Celtics a whole lot of conflicts on the floor. Penetration was key to the Knicks gutting out the victory. Knicks will face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals Sunday at 3:30 p.m.