Paul Pierce opts out

[wdleehi]

I think if he is leaving, sign and trade is the way to send him off.  


Add some rebuilding pieces off him (Ray and KG)

[xmuscularghandix]

Its time to let him walk.  The problem is that this team a year older is not going to be good enough to win the title even if it resigns PP and Ray.  They need another top player at this point and they cannot afford it.  

I'm actually surprised that there isn't more support for letting him walk.  I love him too, but Paul's leg's are done.  

Paul’s legs aren’t done, he rushed his way back from a few injuries this year and it kept him out of a groove.

However while out of the groove he posted career high percentages across the board.

Paul is the least done out of the big 3.

[FallGuy]

These guys are thinking 'package deals'.  They want to go somewhere with some one.  

Eh, if Rondo was on the market(which he very well could've been), people would be thinking package deals with him. Pg's are very important to these guys seemingly from the CP3 rumors.

And Fallguy: if the Celtics aren't FA players because they'd have to sign a bunch of minimum contract players, then neither are Miami and the Knicks. We'd honestly be in the race.

I'm not sure the Knicks are a legit destination given the lack of talent on their roster. I expect they'll be screwed.

[celticsclay]

This thread has basically become a chat room at almost 1am on the east coast. Think we care enough?

[jdpapa3]

This thread has basically become a chat room at almost 1am on the east coast. Think we care enough?

lol tp. If we are getting this excited, it must be like Christmas eve over in Bulls and Heat nation.

[Kuberski33]

I'm not sure the Knicks are a legit destination given their lack of talent on the roster. I expect they'll be screwed.

Here's where I agree with you 100%.  The Knicks are going to be screwed.  I think the Nets will be too.

[jjbay7]

Let Pierce and Ray sign with other teams. Sign LeBron with a max contract. Sign Mike Miller with the MLE.


Rondo
Miller
James
Garnett
Perkins



How much of a dream scenario would that be?

thank you!! my kinda guy. and these are WINNERS with HEART. to continue celts tradition. why cant our other celtic brothers see this scenario. doesnt have to be a dream. it should happen. and KG and miller would be only aging starters. to build around perk rondo and james in couple years. love this

[celts34pats55]

I was only 8 when Larry Bird retired, so Paul Pierce is the greatest Celtic that I can remember watching everyday.  The ONLY other spot I can see him go is the Clippers.  

I just feel like PP is better than that and will return.  Like Jon said its all about the CBA.  I would love to see his deal go one or two years max beyond what KG has left.

Ha, funny, I was EXACTLY 8 when Bird retired. Yup, he announced his retirement on my 8th birthday!!! I cried all day. So yeah, PP also will pretty much always be my favorite Celtic, since I kinda grew up with him. It would be a bit devastating to not see him in Green. Hopefully we can get it done. The whole thing does seem a bit similar to when the Pats cut my boy Willie McGinest in hopes to re-sign, which they never did (see my username)

[Chief Macho]

Its time to let him walk.  The problem is that this team a year older is not going to be good enough to win the title even if it resigns PP and Ray.  They need another top player at this point and they cannot afford it.  

I'm actually surprised that there isn't more support for letting him walk.  I love him too, but Paul's leg's are done.  

Paul’s legs aren’t done, he rushed his way back from a few injuries this year and it kept him out of a groove.

However while out of the groove he posted career high percentages across the board.

Paul is the least done out of the big 3.

We'll have to disagree.  He's getting hurt because he's older imo.  He is at 884 games played.  A thousand is where careers normally head rapidly down hill.   Sure, keeping him around next year would be great but not at the money or length that would be required.  Most importantly I don't think they can get enough other help to make another serious run.

[paintitgreen]

Let Pierce and Ray sign with other teams. Sign LeBron with a max contract. Sign Mike Miller with the MLE.


Rondo
Miller
James
Garnett
Perkins



How much of a dream scenario would that be?

thank you!! my kinda guy. and these are WINNERS with HEART. to continue celts tradition. why cant our other celtic brothers see this scenario. doesnt have to be a dream. it should happen. and KG and miller would be only aging starters. to build around perk rondo and james in couple years. love this

If we use cap space to sign a player - and we still probably wouldn't have enough for a max contract player with even minimum cap holds - we don't have a midlevel exception.

If the Celtics could somehow unload Davis's (or Perk's) salary without taking anything back, and/or get Rasheed's contract entirely off the books, then Rondo-Bradley-Lebron-KG-Perk or Davis is actually a distant possibility. But the entire bench would have to consist of minimum contract players. 

[makaveli]

I sure hope they sign Paul, it's a must do unless they can land LeBron, from a realist me, but I am very subjective regarding our Captain, for me he is the best player in the world and I want 4 more yeras. HE DESERVED THIS

[LB3533]

Pierce is eligible for a 4 year deal worth 90+ million.

He might be gone.

[Celticsbloke]

I'm actually surprised that there isn't more support for letting him walk.  I love him too, but Paul's leg's are done.  

The Celtics came within one good quarter of winning the NBA Finals. I'd say Pierce's legs are doing fine.

As far as how much we pay him goes, I don't think the amount really matters, just the years. Based on the figures I've seen, the only way we can get far enough under the cap to sign a worthwhile player this season is if we renounce Ray's Bird Rights, Sheed's contract comes off the books and Pierce accepts about $6mill per! (That would get us about $10mill to throw at someone).

So if it takes up to about $20 mill per to resign Pierce, but keep his contract to two years, I'd do it. More likely, he'll want at least 3 years, in which case, hopefully we don't need to offer him more than $15 mill per and we can front load it.

I'd like to see Ray back, but the way he disappeared in the Finals after game 2, I think Ainge has to consider what options he has there. The Warriors have a lot of useful (and redundant) pieces and certainly seem to be open to ideas that reduce long-term salaries. IF we can get frontcourt help and still end up with a decent shooter in the backcourt, then Ray is the guy to give up in a sign and trade.

Dream scenario: sign Ray to a one year, $12 mill deal, trade him to the Warriors for Biedrins and Azubuike. Add some cash for the Warriors so they can buy Ray out during the season and we can get him back. The Warriors get rid of Biedrins contract and the Celtics get frontcourt help for KG and a nice wing with size and shooting in Azubuike, as well as hopefully getting Ray back during the season. (Yeah I know, Ray would be tough to convince).        

[Levis107]

I went into this offseason fully expecting Pierce to opt out and resign but suddenly...I have my doubts.  Somebody is going to strike out this off season with the initial big names and have a lot of money to throw around.  Why do I feel like the Clippers offering a max contract at 3 or 4 years is not only realistic, but also enough to lure Pierce away?  Makes too much sense for both sides

[Drucci]

Wow... definitely didn't see that one coming. I knew it was a possiblity of course but I didn't expect Pierce to opt out.

I mean, he is walking away from more than 20 million $, it's a lot, even if he expects to get a long term deal for the future.

Logic says he will re-sign a long term deal with the Celtics and end up his career with them.

With that said... I don't recall Pierce saying recently (like, during the playoffs or after) that he still wanted to retire as a Celtic. Also, maybe he expects a big offer from another team and would like to play in his hometown? The Clippers have been brought out as a possibility by many fans and it kind of makes sense.

Finally, maybe he doesn't want to stay in Boston because of Rondo? Just speculating but maybe he didn't appreciate leaving him the "keys" of the team this season and doesn't want to stay now that he isn't the main guy anymore. I may be overthinking here but when you think about it and all the "Pierce doesn't pass the ball to Rondo in the 4th quarter" and stuff like that... it makes sense somehow.

Here is hoping Pierce re-signs with us!