Clippers, Celtics talk deal for Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett

The Clippers and Celtics had more discussions Saturday about a deal involving Boston Coach Doc Rivers and power forward Kevin Garnett both coming to Los Angeles, but the Clippers feel as if the current asking price is too high, said NBA executives who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The Celtics were asking the Clippers for center DeAndre Jordan, point guard Eric Bledsoe and first-round draft picks this year and in 2014 for Garnett and the right to hire Rivers, the executives said.

“The Clippers don’t want to do that,” one executive said.

The Clippers offered Jordan and a first-round pick either this year or next year, but Boston has refused that so far, the executives said.

The Clippers don’t want to trade Bledsoe, preferring to have the backup point guard available to exchange in future deals.

“The Clippers are not going to budge,” an executive said. “The Clippers don’t want to feel as if they are being taken advantage of. Boston wants to hurry up the deal because they know Doc wants to come to the Clippers.”

The Clippers would like to hire Rivers. He has three years remaining on his contract that pays him $7 million per year. NBA executives said Clippers owner Donald Sterling might be willing to pay Rivers $6 million a year over three years.

The Clippers also are being told that Garnett would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to join Rivers in Los Angeles, the executives said.

If the Clippers and Celtics can’t settle on a deal, L.A. plans on making an offer to either former Memphis coach Lionel Hollins or Indiana associate head coach Brian Shaw next week, the executives said.

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