David Stern explains league’s issues with Clippers-Celtics proposal

NBA Commissioner David Stern was even more adamant on Stephen A. Smith’s radio show on ESPN about why the league has taken issue with the proposed deal between the Clippers and Boston Celtics.

The deal that has been discussed would have Boston sending the rights to Coach Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett to the Clippers for DeAndre Jordan and two first-round draft picks.

Stern said the collective bargaining agreement doesn’t authorized a team to trade players “involving coaches’ contracts.”

“The only consideration that can be done here in player transactions are other players, draft picks and a very limited amount of cash,” Stern said on Smith’s show Thursday. “But, coaches’ contracts don’t qualify as extra consideration or acceptable consideration in player transactions.”

Stern said both the Clippers and Celtics have had this “confirmed to them” over the last few days while they tried to broker this deal.

The league sees the deal as the Clippers trading Jordan for Garnett – player for player, which is allowed – and two picks for Rivers, which is not allowed.

“What the rules won’t allow … it can’t be gotten around by breaking it up into two separate transactions,” Stern said.

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