LOS ANGELES,CA – DECEMBER 25: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers talks to Austin Rivers #25 of the Los Angeles Clippers in the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 25, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles Lakers won 111-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

If you’ve ever worked in a family business, you know there’s always a very slim chance that your dad might end up letting you go. That would be incredibly awkward and weird for everyone, and it happens on a much bigger scale than just the usual family business; it might happen in the NBA.

When Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was asked about who would be potential trade fodder in order to make his team better, he told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols, “If you think you can make your team better, you make your team better. That’s my job.”

And of course, Doc’s son Austin is a backup point guard for the Clippers, which means that, yes, Doc might well be willing to trade his son away. That would make for a weird phone call, wouldn’t it? He responded to these questions one day after New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony was linked to the Clippers in potential trade talks.

“We’re not talking to anyone; people are talking to us — I guess I can say that,” Rivers said. “Listen, we love our team. We believe we are good enough right now. Having said that, my job is to look at this team and see if we can get better. And if we can, we’ll do it.”

Reports stated the Knicks would ship Melo to LA in exchange for players not named Griffin, Paul or Jordan, which is good news because I bet Doc Rivers is probably not interested in just about any NBA player available in trade for those three. But since it’s far easier to trade pieces at the bottom of a NBA roster instead of those at the top, Rivers was asked directly about whether he’d shop his own son, and this was his response:

“Listen, I would trade anyone,” Rivers said. “You have to be willing to do that … and he would be one of them. And any of them would be one. But I don’t want to trade any of our guys. I like our team.”

Don’t worry about that phone call yet, Austin. But do remember that there’s a creeping possibility that your dad might trade you to a bad team next month.

[ESPN]

About Matt Lichtenstadter

Recent Maryland graduate. I've written for many sites including World Soccer Talk, GianlucaDiMarzio.com, Testudo Times, Yahoo's Puck Daddy Blog and more. Houndstooth is still cool, at least to me. Follow me @MattsMusings1 on Twitter, e-mail me about life and potential jobs at matthewaaron9 at Yahoo dot com.