What is the most you would offer Paul to stay?

[Jeff]

I know, I know.  It depends.  But still, if your first order of business was to offer Pierce a contract with what you know now, how much would you be willing to offer?

For me it is more important to get the years locked in than it is the dollars.

The max I would go to is 3 years and I'd try to make them declining in value over the term.  Maybe $16M, $15M, $14M.

I'd try to get less, but I doubt he'd settle for less.

That puts him in position to make a minimum of $30M if there's a lockout in year 2 of the deal (better than he'd get by picking up his option then hitting the market in 2012) and it lets us get the gang back together for one more run.

Oh yeah, and I'd find a way to make that last year very flexible in case there are options under the new CBA to buy out players or trade and re-sign them.

If he wants 4 years, we could be in for a long standoff.

[Chris]

2 years/ $38 million

[bobdelt]

Is declining against the CBA? I though salaries had to increase?

I'd give 2 years max.

[Jeff]

you can do declining (see Nocioni's contract) but I believe it has to be limited to 10% drops each year (or something like that)

[Greenbean]

I have a bad feeling about these negotiations. Paul has made a lot of money but he has a child now and without a doubt he want to secure as much money that he can in this last big contract.

Paul wants 4 years I would imagine and some team will offer it to him. I think they will get it done but I think the negotiaions are going to take a looong time possibly hampering us in our decision making this offseason kind of like the Posey deal.

Edit: To answer the question I would try to get him to sign for 2 years 40 million, but I would be keeping my eye on the open market at the same time if any opportunities come up.

[Kwhit10]

I know, I know.  It depends.  But still, if your first order of business was to offer Pierce a contract with what you know now, how much would you be willing to offer?

For me it is more important to get the years locked in than it is the dollars.

The max I would go to is 3 years and I'd try to make them declining in value over the term.  Maybe $16M, $15M, $14M.

I'd try to get less, but I doubt he'd settle for less.

That puts him in position to make a minimum of $30M if there's a lockout in year 2 of the deal (better than he'd get by picking up his option then hitting the market in 2012) and it lets us get the gang back together for one more run.

Oh yeah, and I'd find a way to make that last year very flexible in case there are options under the new CBA to buy out players or trade and re-sign them.

If he wants 4 years, we could be in for a long standoff.

I'd be happy with the 16-15-14mil a year deal like you stated.  But I have a feeling he'll get around 3 years 51mil.

[paulball2007]

5 years 54 mil at 12, 11, 10, 9, with a team buyout of 3-5 mil in year 5 to make up for Pierce taking less money in the beginning.  Total deal worth 47 mil.  It would be like him getting 14, 12, 11, 10 but it's spread out over 5 years.  He can retire a C and not kill their payroll flexibility

[JSD]

2 years/ $38 million

That's it? Really?

[Drucci]

3 years, 40$ million. And being reluctant to offer him a third year, but doing so for his loyalty.

[CelticsWhat35]

2 yr deal worth approximately $40 mil.  I don't think he's worth that much, but if you want to make one last run at things, you need to give Pierce some incentive not to go after a 4 yr deal elsewhere.

But I would under no circumstances go past 2 yrs.

[Greenbean]

Hold on Im trying to get a memory out of my head cold riddled brain...didnt Pierce go on record to say he wants to play 3 more years and then go into front office management?

If so, maybe Pierce take a 3 year deal for cheap money (35-40 mil) with the understanding that he will be placed right under Danny in the front office after the 3rd year. Danny then grooms Pierce to take over his job for the next 5 years. Im pretty sure Pierce could make some good money doing this, more than a TV gig. This would offset what he loses in the deal.

[greenhead85]

We can offer the money that has been posted. But I think Paul feels he is getting underpaid. KG is making more than him so I guess it must somehow offset the discrepancy between them knowing for a fact he has been with the franchise in his entire career. He also has to take into consideration that he may not be the franchise's face now and that the team is also trying hard to manage a very tight budget.

One thing though that Danny must make is to show his business savvy and cannot be too sentimental - like Red was in the 80s when we still had the original Big 3 - in keeping our current Big 3 when cost efficiency will be compromised. We might get buried financially in the next years to come and will only waste our reliable talent and new All-Star Rondo. Frankly, I would offer PP somewhere between 36-40 million for 3 years to accommodate some talented prospects.

[Greenbean]

We can offer the money that has been posted. But I think Paul feels he is getting underpaid. KG is making more than him so I guess it must somehow offset the discrepancy between them knowing for a fact he has been with the franchise in his entire career. He also has to take into consideration that he may not be the franchise's face now and that the team is also trying hard to manage a very tight budget.

One thing though that Danny must make is to show his business savvy and cannot be too sentimental - like Red was in the 80s when we still had the original Big 3 - in keeping our current Big 3 when cost efficiency will be compromised. We might get buried financially in the next years to come and will only waste our reliable talent and new All-Star Rondo. Frankly, I would offer PP somewhere between 36-40 million for 3 years to accommodate some talented prospects.

Does anyone else beside me blame 2 young star players dying before they reach their prime as the main reason there was no bridge to the 90's version of the Celtics?

[Donoghus]

Realistically?  3 years/$45 million.

Personally, I'd only offer 2 years/$32 million.  He's got a lot of NBA mileage of him.  I love the guy to death but I think the decline is going to be a relatively fast one with Pierce.  

[CelticsWhat35]

Hold on Im trying to get a memory out of my head cold riddled brain...didnt Pierce go on record to say he wants to play 3 more years and then go into front office management?

If so, maybe Pierce take a 3 year deal for cheap money (35-40 mil) with the understanding that he will be placed right under Danny in the front office after the 3rd year. Danny then grooms Pierce to take over his job for the next 5 years. Im pretty sure Pierce could make some good money doing this, more than a TV gig. This would offset what he loses in the deal.

Pierce doesn't seem to me like the kind of guy that would stay in Boston after his career is over.  Maybe I'm wrong, but I just see him going back to L.A.