Celtics or Clippers? New LA coach Rivers was in ‘win-win’ situation

Even Doc Rivers got weary of the two-week saga of his move to the Los Angeles Clippers. He thought the unusual deal was dead several times, and he insists he really didn’t mind the prospect of returning to the Boston Celtics.

“I felt like I was the only guy in all this that was in a win-win,” Rivers said.

The Clippers think they’ve got plenty of winning in store after landing one of the NBA’s most respected veteran coaches.

The Clippers formally introduced Rivers at their Los Angeles training complex after dealing a first-round pick to the Celtics. Rivers was simply grateful to end his self-described “strange ordeal” ever since the Celtics floated the possibility of moving the NBA’s highestpaid coach to a talented team determined to replace Vinny Del Negro with a top-flight leader.

Also: The Miami Heat decided to exercise their team option to keep starting point guard Mario Chalmers for the 2013-14 season. Chalmers is due to make $4 million this coming season, which will be his sixth with the Heat.

Power forward Carl Landry opted out of the final year of his two-year, $8 million deal with the Golden State Warriors to become a free agent.

The Los Angeles Lakers exercised their contract option on guard Jodie Meeks and extended a qualifying offer to center Robert Sacre.