SAN FRANCISCOYou can add Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers to those who breathed a collective sigh of relief when the trading deadline passed and the Celtics didn't make a single move.
"Obviously, there were conversations as always," Rivers told Comcast SportsNet shortly before the team departed for Sacramento, Calif., on Thursday afternoon. "There were more calls coming in, then were going out. Just none of them made sense. We like our team, and we'd rather stay where we're at."
Rivers spoke of the ever-growing camaraderie and resolve that the Celtics have shown through what has been at times a tough and tumultuous season.
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"It's just a good group, a good group to coach," Rivers said. "And the future will say how good we are as a basketball team."
Even though the trading deadline has passed, that won't prevent the C's from continuing to search for more frontcourt help, something Rivers acknowledged was at discussed often with other teams on Thursday.
"If we could have gotten a big, we would have gotten that," Rivers said.
The sticking point for the Celtics and most NBA teams looking to make a deal, centered around how to handle first-round draft picks.
"The way everyone is projecting this draft to be so strong, so no one wanted to give up picks," Rivers said. "And all the deals from everybody had that in mind."
Danny Ainge, Boston's president of basketball operations, made it clear that any interest in the Big Four would require teams to give the C's a package that would have to include a future first-round pick.
"(Other teams) were interested in our better players; that's easier to say then names," Ainge said. "But they weren't offering what we wanted. We just like our guys."
Still, Rivers and the Celtics still have an eye towards adding size to the roster.
A number of players were waived on Thursday to create roster spots for other players acquired via trade. Among them being former Celtic big man Chris Johnson, who was waived by Portland.
Rivers said the C's would certainly keep an eye out for any big men that become available either by being waived, or through a buy-out.
"Things like that, could happen," Rivers said. "But with the buy-out, you have to compete with other teams."
The most logical player for the C's to acquire via the buy-out process, is New Orleans center Chris Kaman.
He has been on the trading block for weeks, but the NBA-owned Hornets did not reach a deal.
"I would say if there's a big that's bought out and he looked at the roster, we'd be very attractive ... there's guaranteed minutes," Rivers said.
But if a deal can't be struck to add another big man, Rivers isn't overly concerned about his team's chances just as long as they can go into the postseason in relatively good health.
"If we started the playoffs playing the rotation that we have, we're good," Rivers said. "We only play three or four players anyway, as far as your bigs. Right now, we're doing that so we're good there. But if we can add another big, that would be nice."