Doc Rivers Reportedly Considering Leaving Clippers, Joining Magic for Next Job

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers is being linked with a potential return to the Orlando Magic, where he began his coaching career in 1999, ahead of an offseason of uncertainty in L.A.Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported Saturday there's been "persistent chatter" around the league about the possibility of Rivers returning to the Magic, though a timetable is unclear. The speculation comes as Clippers stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin head toward unrestricted free agency this July.Magic general manager Rob Hennigan is on the hot seat, and it's "increasingly likely" the franchise will let him go after the 2016-17 season, according to Stein. That would open the door for Rivers, who's also the Clippers' president of basketball operations, to take on a role similar to his current one if he did land in Orlando.The ESPN.com report also noted Clippers owner Steve Ballmer may decide to change the organizational structure if it would increase the odds of keeping Paul and Griffin. That could mean a coaching change or asking Rivers to give up his roster-building role.Los Angeles sits fifth in the Western Conference with a 40-29 record. It will soon clinch its sixth consecutive postseason berth and its fourth since the coach's arrival in 2013.The lack of playoff success is a concern, though. The Clippers haven't advanced beyond the conference semifinals in any of those postseason appearances.Meanwhile, L.A. isn't hitting its stride at the perfect time. It has a 4-6 record in its past 10 contests, including a current three-game losing streak.On Wednesday,Dan Woikeof theLos Angeles Timespassed along comments from a still-confident Rivers about his team's outlook with the playoffs on the horizon."To me, I like where we're at," he said. "I would like to be playing better, but I think we will. I have a lot of confidence in where we're headed. So, I don't look at it as negative as the outside world looks at it."Rivers added: "I don't think we are struggling. I think we're playing OK. We're not playing great. I just think there are timesand I'm just being honestwe're looked at in a different lens."The road to a championship is crowded with major hurdles, though. Along with the team's lackluster play of late, a title run would likely include some combination of the Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors and the Eastern Conference champion.If the Clippers bow out early again, the coaching staff and roster could look a lot different by the start of the 2017-18 campaign.Returning to Orlando may give Rivers plenty of power, but it would be a massive undertaking. The Magic own the league's fourth-worst record at 25-45 and will need to acquire some star power through the 2017 NBA draft or free agency in order to climb back into playoff contention.
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