Matt Barnes, who moved teams in the 2015 offseason, believes that his former coach with the Los Angeles Clippers, Doc Rivers, never liked him with the team and “couldn’t wait to get rid” of him when the veteran mentor took over for the Hollywood squad.

Days before the start of the new NBA season, Barnes, who is known as one of the tough defenders in the league, also stated that he’s looking forward to meeting his former coach when his new squad, the Memphis Grizzlies, face the Clippers in the upcoming 2015-2016 NBA Season.

"I can't wait to play against Doc Rivers," Barnes said via the league’s official website. "Doc never wanted me. He couldn't wait to get rid of me. Doc and I never saw eye to eye. He tried to get me out of there the second he got there, so it wasn't too surprising to me what happened when things went south."

In the early part of the offseason, Rivers, who also acts as the Clippers’ general manager, traded Barnes to the Charlotte Hornets, which eventually dealt away the veteran forward to Memphis.

Barnes now joins a Grizzlies squad known for their defence-first system featuring defensive players like Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Tony Allen, all of whom are known for their defensive skills in their respective positions. A Barnes and Allen tandem in the wing positions also makes an interesting defensive combination that should give perimeter players trouble throughout the new season.

Barnes, who will enter his 13th NBA season, averaged 10.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in 76 games for the Clippers last season.

The Clippers and Grizzlies meet three times in the 2015-2016 NBA regular season, on Nov. 9, March 19 and April 12.

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