Austin Rivers’ three-year, $35,475,000 contract caused resentment within the Clippers when his father – Clippers coach and then-president Doc Rivers – gave it to the guard in 2016.
But don’t think for a moment that will bother Austin into bypassing $12.65 million next season.
Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times:
Austin Rivers is opting in on his $12 million contract with Clippers for next season, he said.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 21, 2018
That high salary will put a target even more squarely on Rivers’ back, but he’s used to it.
He’ll be overpaid, but he can still help the Clippers. Maybe that’s as an expiring contract used to facilitate a larger trade. Maybe that’s on the court. L.A. will reportedly drop guard Milos Teodosic. The Clippers, with the Nos. 12 and 13 picks in tonight’s draft, could select another guard, but few rookie point guards are reliable.