Father and Son reunited: Clippers acquire Austin Rivers

Photo Credit: isportsweb

The Los Angeles Clippers made NBA History yesterday, as they have created the first father and son, coach-player combination in the history of the NBA.

Guard Austin Rivers will now play for his father, Doc Rivers, who just happens to be a NBA Championship winning coach.  The younger Rivers was the number one prospect out of high school in 2011, deciding to attend Duke.

After one year, he declared for the NBA Draft, but his professional career hasn’t panned out just yet. Rivers was drafted 10th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by New Orleans, where he had a terribly disappointing rookie season, shooting 37 percent from the field, 54 percent from the line and a not so pretty 5.9 PER.

He has improved his shot slightly over the last two years where he has made some nice plays and flashes of confidence and has improved his PER to around 10. But still, you’re looking for more from a lottery pick with that good of genetics. It seemed like the Clippers have been planning to reunite father and son for awhile because it took Doc’s old team, the Boston Celtics to send him on his way to L.A.

On Monday, Rivers was first included in the three team, Jeff Green trade that sent Green to Memphis. The trade consisted of Memphis acquiring Celtics forward Green and Memphis sending veteran forward Tayshaun Prince and a protected first-round pick to Boston. They also sent Quincy Pondexter to New Orleans, who then sent Austin to Boston.

Just days later, the Clippers sent guard Reggie Bullock to Phoenix for forward Shavlik Randolph who will now go to Boston. The Clippers also sent Chris Douglas-Roberts and a 2017 second-round pick to Boston as well.

As the result of the roster move, journeyman point guard Jordan Farmar has been waived by Los Angeles. Coach Doc Rivers was asked about his son joining his team last week.

”I think a year ago I probably wouldn’t,” he said. ”I think I would (now) for sure. I think this team could handle that.” Now that he  Austin is now joining his father  Doc then was asked if he will show his son favoritism, “I probably show favoritism to Blake [Griffin] and Chris [Paul]. I love my son, but I think I’m going to still favor Blake and Chris and those guys.”

It is still unknown how Austin will be used in the Clippers rotation, but he will be learning from one of the best point guards to ever do it in Chris Paul.