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Stern: NBA ready to veto Clippers-Celtics trade

By CAROLINE LEE, UPI.com
NBA Commissioner David Stern has said a potential Clippers-Celtics trade will not go through, as the deal violates NBA rules. UPI/John Angelillo
NBA Commissioner David Stern has said a potential Clippers-Celtics trade will not go through, as the deal violates NBA rules. UPI/John Angelillo | License Photo

The potential trade between the Celtics and Clippers that would trade Boston coach Doc Rivers and players Kevin Garnett, DeAndre Jordan and draft picks, are off.

NBA commissioner David Stern said that the trade abuses the rules in place to prevent collective bargaining.

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The teams were reported to be trying to get around a rule preventing trading a coach's contract by having two separate trades: One trading Garnett for Jordan, and one involving picks with an indirect exchange for Rivers.

Rivers would have to be released from his current contract, which has $21 million over 3 years remaining.

Stern said the league would not approve the trade, because including Rivers in the trade violates the collective bargaining agreement.

“The teams are aware that the collective bargaining agreement doesn’t authorize trades involving coaches’ contracts,” Stern said. "If you think those, at this point -- having been all over the media for the last week -- are separate transactions … I have a bridge that I would very much enjoy selling to you,” Stern said.

The teams are still involved in conversations, as Clippers guard Chris Paul pushes for hiring Rivers and trade for Garnett.

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