The Celtics’ unwillingness to allow a competing team to talk to Rivers suggests they expect him to honor the extension he signed on May 11, 2011, which made him among the highest-paid coaches in professional sports and one of the top two in the NBA along with the Spurs’ Gregg Popovich.

Make no mistake about it, the only reason Ainge refused the Nets is because the Celtics haven’t made any moves yet. If Boston decides Pierce isn’t worth $15 million and Garnett leaves, Doc is the next one out the door. It’s only fair. He can put on a happy face and talk about how all in he is for the rebuilding process, but nobody wants to go through that, and Ainge knows it. Rivers has been loyal, he’s been through lean years in Boston and because of that Ainge shouldn’t hold Doc hostage;the empire is crumbling around him and it’s not going to be put back together in the three years he has left on his contract. So even though this is on every sports site, it’s nothing news right now. Wait till July,after tough decisions have been made. If the Celts look a lot different then they do now and a team comes calling, set Doc free. If he comes back then he’s all in or  the other team didn’t offer him enough, in which case he’ll be miserable and after months of distrust and heresy through the media, he’ll end up taking your job.