Austin Rivers said it wasn't the idea of playing for his father, Clippers Coach Doc Rivers, that intrigued him most about coming to Los Angeles.
It was the chance to be a part of a "playoff-caliber championship team" such as the Clippers that sold Austin on joining Doc to become the first son in NBA history to play for his father in an NBA game.
Austin, a combo guard, was acquired from the Boston Celtics on Thursday in a three-team trade that sent Reggie Bullock to Phoenix and Chris Douglas-Roberts and a 2017 second-round draft pick to the Celtics. Boston also got forward Shavlik Randolph from Phoenix.
"I'm viewing it as an opportunity to play for a great team," Rivers said at his introductory news conference Friday night before the Clippers played Cleveland at Staples Center. "The whole father-son thing, obviously people are going to read into that.… I'm just focusing on the basketball part."
The 6-4 Rivers was the 10th overall selection in the 2012 draft by New Orleans, but he has never lived up to that.
He was averaging 6.8 points on 38.7% shooting, 28% from three-point range, in 22.1 minutes per game with the Pelicans this season.
Now in his third season, Austin, 28, admitted he never saw himself playing for dad, who is also the Clippers' president of basketball operations.
"He called me up and he asked me if 'this was something you might be interested in because we need you,' " Austin said. "When I heard that, it was one of those things where I just kind of had to think, take a day to myself and be like, 'Could this work?' And it does, just because of the relationship I have with him. It's already kind of basketball-oriented.…It's not so much like father-son. It's just kind of like coach-player and then off the court, we deal with that a different way."
Clippers waive Farmar
The Clippers waived guard Jordan Farmar on Friday after working on a buyout Thursday night of his two-year, $4.2-million contract.
The Clippers remain interested in small forward Tayshaun Prince, who also was traded to Boston from Memphis, if, as expected, he gets a buyout from the Celtics. The Clippers are less interested in point guard Nate Robinson, who also was traded to Boston from Denver, after he got a buyout from the Celtics.
The Clippers can add another player because they have a 13-man roster.
"We think this will be another buyout season for a lot of guys," Rivers said. "You want to have flexibility and it gives us that."
CLIPPERS AT SACRAMENTO
When: 7 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Sleep Train Arena.
On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 980, 1330.
Records: Kings 16-22, Clippers 26-13 through Thursday.
Record vs. Kings: 0-1.
Update: The Kings couldn't build on a 5-1 start that included a 98-92 victory over the Clippers, falling below .500 in early December to prompt the dismissal of Coach Mike Malone. They have played better since center DeMarcus Cousins returned from a bout of viral meningitis, but Rudy Gay is recovering from a bone bruise in his left knee that could prevent him from playing against the Clippers.
broderick.turner@latimes.com
Twitter:@BA_Turner
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