Paul Pierce opts out

[lon3lytoaster]

Dear Paul and Ray,

Sign for the minimum. You know in reality you really want to see David Lee or someone else in here.

Love,

LT.

[Tough Juice]

why we don't sign-and-trade him for Carmelo Anthony based on this:

"Nuggets WIlling to Trade Anthony"

While their offer of a hefty contract extension proves the Nuggets hope (Carmelo) Anthony will remain the face of the franchise for years to come, the team is prepared to trade Melo rather than let him walk as a free agent next summer, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

At a salary of $17 million, Anthony is committed to play for Denver during the upcoming season. But here's the rub. Anthony can opt out of his contract next summer, and free agency might appear all the more tempting after seeing the league-wide groveling James has instigated.

As a proactive move, the Nuggets have quietly tried to secure the services of Anthony through 2015 before losers in the pursuit of this talent-laden class of free agents can begin dreaming of Melo.

[Ed Teach]

As long as the Celtics offer a fair contract, I don't see why Pierce would leave.  I understand that it is about money, but by remaining a Celtic the "Paul Pierce" franchise becomes stronger.  As a lifelong Celtic Paul will have several post career options in Boston.  He will always be loved by Celtic fans but retiring in Boston will cement that relationship.

[CELTICS733]

Paul, Paul, Paul.  This player literally carried us for a whole decade, of course it was a decade of underachieving, however, he was our leader and best player.  I look at the team that featured him and Antoine as our leaders, both had the physical and basketball smarts but didn’t always apply it.  Fast forward to 2010 Paul had a so, so season and a below average playoff run.  I can’t remember one game when he was the best player on the floor, so with that being said I don’t see how he steps up his game going forward.  Physically he’s not as strong or as quick which were the traits that set him apart from his defender, James and Artest easily took him out of his game and rhythm.  So what can we expect going forward?  He is Celtic and we all love him, however do we want to go through another decade of struggling just to make the playoffs?  The Lakers exposed us, we saw our weaknesses (Rebounding/Consistent one on one scorer), why not entertain the thought of getting younger and stronger i.e. maybe replace PP with Rudy Gay.  Let Ray go and try to get David Lee as well.  These guys will defend, run the floor with Rondo and add to our rebounding strength.  

[thedawg]

what if Pierce opts out to give more money to the Celtics to use in this free agency =)

It is as likely as if the US government bans guns in the US. Everything is about money and this situation is no different. You would do the same at your work if you had such a strong bargaining chip as Pierce has.

[Rondo2287]

Im kinda torn on this.  I dont think the big three can win another championship.  And according to Ricky Bobby "If your not first, your last."  So part of me thinks we should rebuild. 

Another part of me doesnt think i could take it if Pierce signed with somebody else.  Its like dumping a girl because you dont want her but at the same time you dont want to know if she is hooking up with another guy. 

[boom]

Im kinda torn on this.  I dont think the big three can win another championship.  And according to Ricky Bobby "If your not first, your last."  So part of me thinks we should rebuild. 

Another part of me doesnt think i could take it if Pierce signed with somebody else.  Its like dumping a girl because you dont want her but at the same time you dont want to know if she is hooking up with another guy. 

tp my feelings exactly.

[BuckeyeCelt]

I still think him resigning helps...

I know everyone says it doesn't help, and that is true for this year.

However, if he signs a 4 year deal (gasp) to me it is worth it.

Perhaps we would be overpaying him near the end of the deal, but we will also still be underpaying our young PG at that time thanks to Danny getting RRs deal done prior to last season.

PP must retire a Celtic...

I would miss ray, I would miss KG if he were traded, but I can't bear to see PP in another uni... 

[bobdelt]

Everyone is forgetting the luxury tax savings... even if pierce resigns and we are still over the cap, every dollar we pay him less this year counts as 2 to Wyc - which in turns makes him more willing to spend more.

[Kuberski33]

PP must retire a Celtic...

In David Stern's NBA, sentimentality needs to take a backseat to practicality.  I seriously doubt Pierce will take fewer years and a lot less money to stay here.  And with his legs where they are right now, expect the slashing/take it to the hole part of PP's game to give way to relying mostly on his jump shot.  That to me seriously impacts his value in a negative way - especially on this team as currently constituted.

Unless they have a deal already in place (which is possible, but maybe not likely) I think the odds are pretty decent that he's played his last game as a Celtic.

[slamtheking]

Although I'm surprised PP's walking away from 21+ mill this year, it makes sense from a business perspective.  He's looking for more financial security through the rest of his playing days and most likely looking to sign his final contract. 

It would be optimal for the C's to sign him to a low-budget 2-year deal to end with KG but that's not going to happen.  PP probably has 4 years left before retiring and is looking for a deal that long.  that should surprise no one.  He' probably looking for $60 mill over that time which is probably a bit more than he's currently worth but with potentially one of those years lost to a lockout, the grand total isn't unreasonable.

One other thing to consider that's getting overlooked: KG's deal may end in 2 years but it's a longshot assumption that his playing days end with that deal.  I'd be extremely surprised if KG doesn't sign another 1-2 year deal after this current one.  What Danny does with him at that point (which he's undoubtedly thinking about when he offers PP his new contract) will be very interesting.

[CelticsWhat35]

If Ainge wants to resign Pierce, he should offer him a contract based on what he thinks he's worth going forward, not on past achievements.  Ainge and the Celtics don't owe Pierce anything, and Pierce doesn't owe the Celtics anything.  Pierce was awarded for his past achievements and contributions with his past max contracts.  Now you could argue that Pierce is worth around $15 million this year, but there's no way you're going to tell me that he'll be worth that money in 3-4 years.  And to have a bad contract still on the books when KG expires, and you're trying to re-tool around Rondo, just doesn't make sense.

In my opinion, you either sign back Pierce and Ray for 2 years and try to get another title while KG is still on the books, or you let them walk.  They will be of no use to the Celtics at the money they're looking for after 2012.

[Celtics Insider]

Would we have enough for a max free agent if we let Pierce, and Ray go, along with Sheed's retirement?

I believe so.


But



What then draws players to Boston?

Rondo, Perk, Big Baby, possibly Avery Bradley.

[Celtics Insider]

What then draws players to Boston?

I think the major media market and Rajon Rondo would put us at 3rd or 4th place in the priority line behind Miami and Chicago.

And that would mean the C's would probably be signing one of Joe Johnson/Gay/Boozer or Stoudamire.

Gay would be my first choice out of those guys. He is the youngest,has the most upside and would ne a perfect fit with Rondo.

Exactly. Like in my earlier post, I gave some scenarios that would put us in BETTER position for now and the future. It doesn't LOOK as good, but I think we'd be better off with this as our starting lineup:

Rondo
Bradley or T. Allen
Gay
Davis
Okafor until Perk heals

[Andy Jick]

There's a part of me that hopes he leaves...  I appreciate Paul's game, but I never totally embraced him as a Celtic because it seemed for so many years that he never really did either.  I don't begrudge him for doing what's best for him, and this league is going to have a lockout (mark it down) so it's probably time to move forward.  I would never give him a contract that the Celtics don't feel comfortable with, and I believe Pierce's demands will exceed the offer.

This team as currently build cannot win a title.  Their legs are starting to give way, and I'd rather bust this up a year too early than a year too late.

If Paul stays, then that's fine.  But if he goes (and I believe he will for some strange reason) then thanks for the title...