Clippers coach Rivers on Chris Paul trade: ‘I hate the way it ended’

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers  AP

The NBA’s surprisingly busy summer of blockbuster deals continue, as Chris Paul was sent packing from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Houston Rockets in exchange for seven players on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).

READ: NBA: Paul goes from Clippers to Rockets in blockbuster deal

The perennial All Star spent the last six seasons anchoring Doc Rivers’ offense and has certainly created a bond with the player-turned-coach.

Shortly after the blockbuster trade went down, the Clippers’ head honcho spoke about the deal.

“I hate the way it ended,” Rivers told Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times. “I wish we could have ended it better, as far as winning. But as a franchise, we love where we’re at.”

Although he certainly lost the cornerstone of the franchise, Rivers acknowledged some of the talented players he got in return.

“Under the circumstances, I thought we did terrific,” he shared. “Getting Patrick Beverley and (Sam) Dekker and Montrezl (Harell) was very important for us.”

Meanwhile, Rockets GM Daryl Morey said he brought Paul in to keep up with the “weapons race” in the league.

“You’re either in the weapons race or on the sidelines,” he said during a press conference. “We felt like this is, with James Harden  in his prime and Chris Paul in his prime, this gives us a real shot to chase the juggernaut teams that are out there.”

Aside from Paul, athletic forward Blake Griffin is expected to sign elsewhere as well, while DeAndre has also been the subject of multiple trade talks.  Khristian Ibarrola /ra

“It’s a weapons race in the NBA. You’re either in the weapons race or on the sidelines.” –@dmorey on Chris Paul trade…

LIVE on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/EmuCJbt2Z8

— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 28, 2017