Celtics coach gets five year extension

Rivers contract was set to expire, he had an option for next season and he said after the Celtics were eliminated by the Miami Heat on Wednesday night that he was "leaning heavily'' toward coming back. But he was expected to return on a short-term deal to make one more run at a title with the Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. 


Instead, the five-year contract worth a reported $35 million would give him the chance to lead the franchise with a rebuilt roster that probably won't include any of the thirtysomething stars who led Boston to its 18th NBA title - and Rivers' first - in 2008.

One year after Rivers waited into the summer to make up his mind to return for just one year, he decided quickly on a long-term deal. It was discussed in training camp, shelved during the season and then revisited after the first-round sweep over the New York Knicks in the playoffs gave them a chance to talk.

"He just wanted to come back this year and see how it was going to be,'' Ainge said. "Doc has always known that we wanted him. That offer was on the table.''

Rivers has coached the Celtics for the past seven seasons, winning the NBA title in 2008 and reaching the finals in 2010 before losing in seven games to the Los Angeles Lakers. This year, Boston swept the New York Knicks in four games before losing to the Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals in five games.  

Ainge promised changes, refusing to even promise that the team's four core players - the Big Three and point guard Rajon Rondo - would be back. If they are, there could be changes in the way they're used, with an eye toward keeping the older stars fresh for the playoffs.  

And the roster will be different, he said, acknowledging that the team got little help from the bench in the postseason - especially on offense.  

"There were too many scoring droughts at crucial times in games,'' Ainge said. "We need to improve our team to have a crack at it next year.''