The Clippers and Celtics have started, ended, resumed, ended, and started trade talks that would bring Celts head coach Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett to LaLa Land in exchange for Clippers center DeAndre Jordan and two first-round draft picks.
We all know the NBA keeps a close eye on all things league related, and USA Today Sports reports a source says that this possible trade has raised concerns.
While the Rivers component of the deal was technically separate from the trading of players and picks, the league has informed the teams that the mere appearance that there is value being attached to Rivers is not in accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
NBA Commissioner David Stern spoke on ESPN radio insinuating that deal will be vetoed if the two teams try to side-step league rules.
“If we know what the parties really want to do is just one deal and that they’re going to break it into two for the purposes of trying to avoid the restrictions that the Collective Bargaining Agreement places on them,” Stern said, “… well, we know how to deal with that as well.”
Well it looks like if an agreement is reached based on the rumors of what is currently proposed the Sternminator has no problem with intervening. I bet that other team in LA is having trade talk flashbacks right about now.
