With last night’s NBA schedule dominated by the Bucks-Knicks encounter in London, it was decided to give the gossip column a well earned day off. But after 24 hours away from the TB page, it returns like it’s never been away.
AUSTIN TO PLAY FOR DADDY DOC
Austin Rivers and father Doc Rivers look set to make history, with Austin looking set to become the first son to play for his father Doc.
Austin is heading to the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team trade that includes former first-round pick Reggie Bullock going to the Suns and swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts and a 2017 second-round draft pick to the Celtics. Boston also acquired Phoenix big man Shavlik Randolph in the trade and generated a $2.4 million trade exception.
Via ESPN:
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Rivers will become the first son to play for his father when he makes his first appearance with the Clippers. Coby Karl was briefly a member of the Nuggets in 2010 under father George Karl, but Coby did not play for Denver during that stint, which occurred while his father — now an NBA analyst for ESPN — was on leave recovering from throat cancer.
As Clippers president of basketball operations, the elder Rivers had the authority to sign off on acquiring his 22-year-old son.
Asked last week whether he might be inclined to show favoritism toward his son, Doc Rivers said, “I probably show favoritism to Blake [Griffin] and Chris [Paul]. I love my son, but I think I’m going to still favor Blake and Chris and those guys.”
ESPN.com has learned the Clippers will waive veteran guard Jordan Farmar to create the roster room needed for the deal. The Boston Herald reported Thursday via Twitter that the Celtics plan to release Douglas-Roberts.
The Clippers, by virtue of waiving Farmar, now are widely expected to pursue Nate Robinson, who has agreed to terms on a buyout with the Celtics after Boston acquired him from Denver earlier in the week. The Celtics requested waivers on Robinson on Thursday.
PIERCE VS KG FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ’07
In the early hours of tomorrow morning Washington Wizards will face Brooklyn Nets and for the first time since March 4, Paul Pierce [Washington] squares off against Kevin Garnett [Brooklyn].
Via ESPN:
The Nets (16-23) have struggled ever since. Meanwhile, Pierce has flourished in a supporting role for the Wizards (27-12).
“Any team without Paul Pierce misses him. Period,” Pierce said following the team’s morning shootaround.
Asked if playing his former team would give him an added motivation, Pierce responded, “It’s just like any other game, truthfully. I was only there for one year.”
SANDERS SUSPENDED FOR AT LEAST 10 GAMES
Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders’ nightmare of a season continues to get worse.
The NBA announced Friday afternoon that Sanders is suspended for a minimum of ten games, after violating terms of the league’s anti-drug program.
Sanders was also suspended last season for five games under the same violation, after which he declared … “I believe in marijuana and the medical side of it.”
From the press release:
The NBA announced today that Larry Sanders of the Milwaukee Bucks has been suspended without pay for a minimum of ten games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.Sanders’ suspension will begin on Monday, Jan. 19, when the Bucks host the Toronto Raptors, and will continue until he is in full compliance with his treatment program.
