Doc Rivers: Clippers were third for Kevin Durant

The Warriors signed Kevin Durant.

The Celtics claimed they finished second for the superstar free agent.

And the bronze medal goes to...

Doc Rivers on The Vertical Podcast with Woj, as transcribed by CSN Bay Area:

And we were in it. We were in the Top 3 at the very end

We asked a simple question, and the first question I asked was, ‘Are we in the Top 3?’ And they said ‘Yes.’ So that made us feel good. My next question was, ‘Are we in the Top 2?’ And we had made the decision if they say ‘No’ then we go, if they say ‘Yes’ we stay. And they said ‘No.’

This is all obviously quite silly. It mostly matters only where Durant plays, not where he came closer to playing. Golden State won. Everyone else lost.

But teams are fighting for perception, trying to send a message to the next superstar free that they’re a legitimate destination.

I just have a hard time believing the Clippers were actually third and ahead of re-signing with the Thunder. The Clippers didn’t have enough cap space to keep Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and give Durant a max contract.

I believe Durant could’ve told the Clippers they ranked third because he liked their pitch and the statement was largely superficial. But if it actually came down to it, would Durant have taken a reduced salary or joined a team depleted by losing one of its stars? Those were the only two options for picking the Clippers.

I have my doubts, but at least Rivers has a narrative he can sell. And sell it he will.