Knicks were an ‘option’ for Rivers
While Doc Rivers indicated trade talks involving Carmelo Anthony are quiet between the Clippers and Knicks, his son Austin Rivers admitted the Knicks were among his top three choices during free agency, calling them “a huge option.’’
The Knicks and Clippers have staged cursory trade talks, and the Knicks would need a combo guard — such as the younger Rivers — to be one of the assets coming back. Doc Rivers, the Clippers coach and president, downplayed any progress being made.
“That’s your guys’ story. Not our story. I’m amused by it,” Rivers said before the Clippers’ 119-115 win over the Clippers. “I read all your stuff. You guys are doing a great job of writing. We’re really not involved in it.”
Rivers indicated the Clippers are in a vulnerable situation, needing guard help with Chris Paul out another several weeks due to an injured thumb. Austin Rivers, 24, has been starting at point guard, and is averaging 12.1 points in 27.9 minutes. The Clippers likely would have to ship out Rivers and Jamal Crawford to snag Anthony, a forward.
Knicks president Phil Jackson and Anthony are in an escalating feud. Jackson made the latest salvo Tuesday with a tweet endorsing a negative article on the Knicks star and comparing him to NBA bust Michael Graham.
Austin Rivers said Jackson and coach Jeff Hornacek visited hism in July to recruit him as a free agent, wanting him to share the backcourt with point guard Derrick Rose. Rivers said he was honored to meet with Jackson and intrigued by Hornacek’s offense.
“They came down to my house in Orlando,’’ Rivers said. “I nailed it down to three teams, but went back to this team. They were a huge option. That was a team I was really considering. I liked Jeff. Never talked to Phil like that until that meeting.
“Sitting down with Phil Jackson was cool for me. I never really met him, talking about one of the most knowledgeable greats. You got to understand my rookie year, my first two years, nobody even wanted me. To go from that to work where I could choose where I wanted to go — with four, five, six teams to nail it down to that — meant a lot to me to show hard work has paid off. It’s been all great.”
The Knicks looked at Rivers as a potential starting shooting guard before Jackson signed Courtney Lee for four years and $48 million. Rivers re-signed for $35 million over three years with the Clippers.