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On being criticized by Vincent Poirier, Doc Rivers says: ‘I don’t get involved in that crap’

Poirier was a seldom-used fourth-string center with the Sixers.

Sixers coach Doc Rivers shrugs off Vincent Poirier criticism.
Sixers coach Doc Rivers shrugs off Vincent Poirier criticism.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

CLEVELAND — Vincent Poirier was critical of 76ers coach Doc Rivers after being traded to the New York Knicks last Thursday.

In an interview with French newspaper Le Parisien, the reserve center said Rivers didn’t reach out to him after the trade.

Rivers was asked about that before Thursday’s 114-94 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

“I don’t get involved in that crap, you know that,” Rivers said. “So Vince and I have talked. That kind of talk and all that kind of stuff, that’s for, I guess, newspapers. So I’ll let you guys do that. I don’t get involved in that stuff.”

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But Poirier, who is French, isn’t pleased with how the trade played out. He and teammate Terrance Ferguson went to New York in the three-team trade that enabled the Sixers to acquire George Hill from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Poirier and Ferguson were waived by the Knicks.

“I wish someone had told me, ‘We were wrong. You can’t play with us,’ ” Poirier said. “I like it when things are straight. The coach didn’t even send a message although I know he sent [one to] others. I’m not asking him to give me compliments, but just a message to wish me good luck.

“We are not commodities. We are still human beings. It’s a minimum of sending a message to say that the situation was complicated, but thank you for your professionalism. A bogus thing, even if he doesn’t really mean it.”

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The Sixers acquired Danny Green, Ferguson and Poirier on Dec. 8 from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Al Horford, a protected 2025 first-round pick, Theo Maledon (the 34th pick in the draft) and the rights to Vasilije Micic.

Poirier was the Sixers’ fourth-string center. He averaged 0.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 3.9 minutes in 10 appearances. The 7-foot center was also sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 8.