Messed up the last post - hit the send button before done..
Paul Pierce:
Career High stats - taking his highest yearly marks in all categories throughout his career:
Career Highs
Points Rebounds Assists Steals FG% Next Closest
26.8 7.3 5.1 2.1 .497 (.471 & .464)
Career Averages
22.0 6.0 3.8 1.5 .447
12-13
19.6 5.4 3.5 1.5 .419
Has Pierce declined? Yes
Is he dramatically off his Career average stats? No
Is it likely he will play better as "other" players on the team step up more (Green, Lee, Bass, etc...? Yes
* The better other players play the less teams can focus on Rondo, KG and Pierce.
We don't need to, and shouldn't trade Pierce - for a number of reasons.
What we do need is to find one more big man at the trade deadline who is decent, that's it. Get Bradley back - let him take the best guard every night.
Big men I'd target via a relatively "small" trade and in no particular order:
Aaron Gray
Samuel Dalembert
Jason Thompson
Mosgov
Etc, any team that might be looking to move a big man for a reasonable price.
I would be very hesitant to give up Bradley in any trade, but if so it would have to be something that brought us back either Gortat or Josh Smith. Still I'd hesitate.
I think we can get Smith - somehow - in Free agency if he really wants to play in Boston with Rondo.