NBA rumors: Ex-Clippers coach Doc Rivers is a candidate for Sixers, Pelicans jobs

The list of big coaching names linked to the Sixers job continues to grow as former Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic coach Doc Rivers has thrown his hat in the ring. Or, at least, he’s been contacted, according to Yahoo Sports.

The Los Angeles Clippers shocked the NBA on Monday by parting ways with longtime head coach Doc Rivers.

There stands a decent chance the NBA coaching veteran won’t be out of work for long. According to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, both the Philadelphia 76ers and New Orleans Pelicans reached out to Rivers within an hour of the news breaking.

Mike D’Antoni is the front-runner for the job with the Sixers. Despite the Rockets’ plans to retain D’Antoni — who was under contract until the end of this season — his time in H-Town ended with the team’s championship dreams. He expressed his plans to move on to the Rockets’ front office after being bounced out of the Western Conference finals in five games by LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Tyronn Lue, Rivers’ assistant with the Clippers and former head coach of the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers, is also a candidate for the job in Philadelphia.

Former Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan was another front-runner before accepting a job with the Chicago Bulls.

One of the more highly thought of coaches in the NBA, Rivers won an NBA title in 2008 as head coach of the Celtics and was voted the NBA’s Coach of the Year in 2000. He also coached the NBA All-Star game twice, in 2008 and 2011, an honor which goes to the winningest coach in each conference at the time the pick is made.

Rivers had been coach of the Clippers since 2013 before stepping down on Monday in what chairman Steve Ballmer deemed a “mutual decision,” per ESPN.

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