The Orlando Magic gave the Atlanta Hawks permission to speak with coach Doc Rivers this offseason.

"Rivers, though, says there was a phone call from the Hawks "that I never got involved in." He said he never considered leaving -- or listening to people who recommended he bail on this jinxed franchise. "I'm going to see this out [in Orlando]," he said. ". . . no matter how hard this has to be to get this right."

The Houston Rockets were also interested but Rivers wasn't.