LA Clippers Deal Is Done

In the wake of owner Steve Ballmer gaining governorship control of the Los Angeles Clippers, discussions on a contract extension for Doc Rivers are expected to commence soon, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Ballmer and Rivers had been eager to forge a long-term partnership, and a California court confirming the authority of Shelly Sterling to sell the franchise on behalf of the Sterling Family Trust has cleared the way to work toward a new deal.

Rivers, 52, the president of basketball operations and head coach, has two years left on his original three-year, $21 million contract. Rivers is already one of the highest-paid executives and coaches in professional sports, and his prominence and pay could grow with the promise of Ballmer’s stewardship of the Clippers.

Through the release of the Donald Sterling audio tapes that led to his banishment by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Rivers became a pivotal figure in holding together the franchise’s value and keeping the team moving forward through the crisis.

After a 57-victory regular season, the Clippers reached the Western Conference semifinals, and return a roster expected to compete for a chance to reach the NBA Finals next season. Rivers won the 2008 NBA championship as coach of the Boston Celtics, and reached the NBA Finals again in 2010.