New Orleans Hornets guard Austin Rivers has not played up to the ability as a top-10 pick that the Hornets saw in him when they drafted Rivers No. 10 overall, hoping to pair him with the No. 1 pick Anthony Davis, who is playing up to expectations.

While it is far too early to write off the 20-year-old rookie, especially considering the potential he has shown throughout his high school career and the flashes of greatness in his lone season at Duke, his poor statistics cannot be overlooked. Rivers’ shooting all-around has been dreadful from his .346 shooting percentage, .364 three-point percentage and even worst 60 percent from the free throw line. Shooting was supposed to be one of Rivers’ strengths in many draft evaluations.

The Hornets were hopeful that Rivers could eventually work his way into the starting lineup this season, pairing him full-time with Davis, yet he has virtually lost all chance of that with the fantastic play from guard Greivis Vasquez, who recently was awarded Player of the Week in the West.

One team will always have interest in Rivers and it just so happens to have a member of his family, the Boston Celtics. The Celtics had a lot of interest in Austin Rivers leading up to last June’s NBA draft, and it’s not just because his dad Doc is the head coach. Do not be surprised if the Celtics reach out to the Hornets between now and the start of the 2013-2014 season to see if they are open to moving him if Austin continues to struggle in New Orleans.

via A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN Northeast