Looks like Doc Rivers will coach the Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers have reportedly agreed to sign Doc Rivers to a three-year, $21 million coaching deal and send his current team, the Boston Celtics, a 2015 first-round draft pick, various media are reporting based on sources. There has been no official confirmation from either team. The deal still has to be approved by the NBA. It gets Boston out from under Rivers' contract and is being viewed as a major statement to helps the Clippers keep Chris Paul, their free-agent star.

From ESPN Boston.com:

Sources close to the process told ESPN that the Clippers believe the deal with Rivers will clinch Chris Paul's signature on a new five-year max contract. Paul becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Contrary to previous reports, according to league and team sources, the Celtics have been complicit all along in assisting Rivers make the switch from Boston to Los Angeles....

League and teams sources also confirmed that for now, any deal involving Garnett and the Clippers is on hold in light of commissioner David Stern's objections to the appearance that the KG deal (for DeAndre Jordan) and Rivers were related.

Arash Markazi says at ESPNLosAngeles.com it's an image-changing move for the Clippers.

When the Los Angeles Clippers traded for Chris Paul a year and a half ago, the perception of arguably the most-maligned franchise in sports history began to change.

On Sunday night, after the Clippers agreed in principle to a deal with the Boston Celtics for head coach Doc Rivers, their perception changed forever.

Every joke about the Clippers being cheap, second-rate and unable to keep or attract top talent instantly became as outdated as a pay phone outside an Apple store.

The Clippers went from unwilling to pay a coach a reasonable salary to acquiring the highest-paid coach in the NBA....

The Clippers are no longer simply changing their culture and becoming more respectable. Their metamorphosis from laughing stock to championship contender is complete. They will not only be one of the favorites to win the title next season, they've set the groundwork to be a contender for the foreseeable future.

Web illustration by ESPN LA.com