Doc Rivers doesn’t want to break up Clippers corps

Doc Rivers has some difficult decisions to make as the head coach/general manager of the Los Angeles Clippers, but really doesn’t want to break the team up.

The Los Angeles Clippers had their exit interviews for the 2015-16 NBA season after losing in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs to the Portland Trail Blazers in six games.

While Clippers head coach/general manager Doc Rivers has some difficult decisions to make with his roster that has failed to reach the Western Conference Finals since he took over three years ago, he seemed reluctant to break up the corps that he has built in Los Angeles since 2013-14.

According to Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times, Rivers said about his players, “They all want to come back, but they’ve all played well and so they’ve made it all more difficult.” Rivers would stress that his 2015-16 club did finish sixth in both team offensive and defensive ratings, too.

Dan Woike of the Orange County Register would state that the Clippers would “want to bring back as many FA as possible.” Retaining players appears a primary offseason goal for Rivers’ Clippers.

Rivers’ decision to keep key free agents probably means that he wants 2015-16’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford back next season to lead the second unit offense. Other key free agents on the Clippers include Luc Mbah a Moute and Jeff Green.

Los Angeles was able to offset the Blake Griffin injury thanks to improved bench depth and strong seasons from players like Crawford, J.J. Redick, and of course Chris Paul. Breaking up the Clippers could still happen, but Rivers is obviously not keen to that idea at this time.

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