What if Pierce Wants Big Money?

[ManUp]

Pierce isn't getting 15 mill from anyone else so he shouldn't expect it from us. He might get 3 years else, but if he wants to stay in Boston I suspect he'll have to settle for 2. I think Pierce is worth about 12 Million per right now. I'd be willing to slightyly overypay on years as long as his contract ends with Garnetts.

[BostonIrishGuy]

I like Pierce's ability to be a clutch player at times, but his series against the Lakers was a big disappointment to me and other C's fans. Not to mention he completely embarassed himself with his whole "WE ARE NOT GOING BACK TO LA" statement which made him look like a complete and utter clown when it was all said and done.

I say we cut the cord and go after Joe Johnson to compliment Rondo, KG, Big Baby, and co. Next year we get #18 by getting SWEET REVENGE against the Lakers !!!

[KungPoweChicken]

I like Pierce's ability to be a clutch player at times, but his series against the Lakers was a big disappointment to me and other C's fans. Not to mention he completely embarassed himself with his whole "WE ARE NOT GOING BACK TO LA" statement which made him look like a complete and utter clown when it was all said and done.

I say we cut the cord and go after Joe Johnson to compliment Rondo, KG, Big Baby, and co. Next year we get #18 by getting SWEET REVENGE against the Lakers !!!

First of all, it is just not possible for the Celtics to get Joe Johnson. Second of all, are we talking about the same Joe Johnson who averaged 13pts a game on 30% shooting, in the Conf. Semifinals, while quitting on his team and fans? Yeah! Let's get that guy!

[Fred Roberts]

I don't want to invest too much $ or years in PP. If he's going to opt out, I think it only helps us. Danny will not bend over backwards to resign Paul at his age and given his slow but consistent decline in play.

I guess we'll find out soon enough. Fingers crossed for draft luck.

[jdpapa3]

Not to mention he completely embarassed himself with his whole "WE ARE NOT GOING BACK TO LA" statement which made him look like a complete and utter clown when it was all said and done.

I don't know. I think we probably take game 3 if Ray Allen even has a "bad" game. It's crazy how delicate a series is.

[Eeyore III]

Pierce will not opt out.  He will gladly collect his $19 million for next year.

Danny will wait to see what the new CBA looks like before making any longer-term deal with Pierce.  From what I've heard, the new CBA is expected to be considerably more management-friendly than the current deal, so it makes sense to delay certain decisions until it is known what the new CBA looks like.

[Mr October]

Different Types of Contenders

(1) Rondo + two All-Star scoring wings + defensive minded bigs

(2) Rondo + scorer/shooter role player + All-NBA wing + defensive minded bigs

(3) Rondo + stopper/shooter role player + All-Star forwards + defensive minded center

(4) Rondo + stopper/shooter role player + impact scorer + All-NBA big man + defensive minded big

(5) Rondo + All-Star SG + stopper/rebounder/shooter + All-star big + defensive big

-------------------------------------

I think those five teams are the frameworks to potential contenders with Rondo as a building block.

A lot of flexibility there, you can fill them out with a lot of different types of players and positions and still finish up with a contender. Remain open to any possibility and take advantage of the best opportunities to add top tier talents. Be it a center, power forward, small forward or shooting guard.

TP. This is a good assessment of where the C's need to go in the post big 3 era.

This year and next year, I think Pierce is truly worth about 16 million. Thus he is overpaid right now. If he opts out, I think his max value is $45/3. And the value should drop from year to year. Something like: 16.5 / 15 / 13.5.

For the sake of maintaining a run next year, I'd be willing to extend Pierce for 18-20 for 1 year. Overpay him for the sake of post 2012 flexibility.

I'm with Who, in that I don't want to waste 3 years of Rondo's prime waiting for contracts to expire while we win 40 games per year.

If Pierce opts out, and Ray & Paul resist 2 year extensions, the Celtics may need to consider the blow it up option.

[the_Bird]

If Pierce opts out, is there anything to preclude him from signing a front-loaded contract?

Let's say Paul opts out, and he and the team agree that a four-year contract for a total of $45M is fair and reasonable.  Is there anything in the CBA that would prevent that contract from being something like

Year 1: $18M
Year 2: $18M
Year 3: $4.5M
Year 4: $4.5M

Now, the team might not like that, if they're paying the luxury tax right now...  but if the goal was to maximize salary cap space for the summer of 2012, could you basically overpay Paul in years 1 and 2 and underpay him in years 3 and 4?  Works out to Paul's benefit, as you'd always rather get your money sooner rather than later, it would allow the team to more easily rebuild in the post-KG era, Pierce would get paid a fair and reasonable amount, and he gets to retire a Celtic.

Only downsides I see are the owners likely paying more luxury tax (although still less this coming season than if Paul did not opt out), and Paul would have some $$ at risk should there be a lockout in '11 - '12.

Would a contract like this work?  I know there are restrictions on how big raises build into contracts can be; are there restrictions on how big paycuts can be as well?

[Chris]

If Pierce opts out, is there anything to preclude him from signing a front-loaded contract?

Let's say Paul opts out, and he and the team agree that a four-year contract for a total of $45M is fair and reasonable.  Is there anything in the CBA that would prevent that contract from being something like

Year 1: $18M
Year 2: $18M
Year 3: $4.5M
Year 4: $4.5M

Now, the team might not like that, if they're paying the luxury tax right now...  but if the goal was to maximize salary cap space for the summer of 2012, could you basically overpay Paul in years 1 and 2 and underpay him in years 3 and 4?  Works out to Paul's benefit, as you'd always rather get your money sooner rather than later, it would allow the team to more easily rebuild in the post-KG era, Pierce would get paid a fair and reasonable amount, and he gets to retire a Celtic.

Only downsides I see are the owners likely paying more luxury tax (although still less this coming season than if Paul did not opt out), and Paul would have some $$ at risk should there be a lockout in '11 - '12.

Would a contract like this work?  I know there are restrictions on how big raises build into contracts can be; are there restrictions on how big paycuts can be as well?

The CBA limits the size of decreases, the same way it limits raises.  So while he can have a decreasing salary, it can't decrease by much.

[aporel#18]

Pierce will get Nash money, and Ray will get Kidd money... or something between them.

I think a reasonable deal for Pierce would be 4 years at 13/12/11/10, last year team option. That 4th year would make for the 8 millions he'd leave on the table next year opting out. That's Nash money, barely less.

Then, if Ray gets 2 years at 8/9, you've got Ray+Pierce+Rondo for 33 millions next year. They you can add a full MLE contract and some minimum contracts without increasing payroll.

Tyrus Thomas for the MLE and Shaq or Jermaine O'Neal for the minimum would be good.

[Tr1boy]

3 or 4 years at 15 million per year is what his camp will want.

Celtics may counter with an 2 year 30 million dollar offer or 3 years at 40

He is still a very good player as we witnessed in the playoffs. But he is not the same guy he was two years ago. (with playing better this year than last)

In the end of it all he may just not opt out, get his money, play like crazy and demand 15 -17 million a year for 3 years with another team (like clippers)

[xmuscularghandix]

he really has grown into a very efficient scorer who can still close out and rebound at elite levels. PP hasn’t started to decline yet, and i think he’s learned some valuable lessons about his body this year. PP is still cream of the crop... treat him that way.




it is very important that Pierce is here to fade as Rondo rises. Sometimes teams turn the franchise over too soon.

[dpaps]

No interest in signing Paul Pierce to a contract extension. Cut the cord.

If we can be players in Free Agency this summer, I'm completely for this. All it takes is trading KG and then Piercing opting out = 2 max free agents (assuming Sheed retires).

[pearljammer10]

He's not going to get big money... Plus he wont ask for it anyway.

[xmuscularghandix]

No interest in signing Paul Pierce to a contract extension. Cut the cord.

If we can be players in Free Agency this summer, I'm completely for this. All it takes is trading KG and then Piercing opting out = 2 max free agents (assuming Sheed retires).

Red Auerbach wouldn’t be able to pull off trading KG.